"Teach wanted Ace, for what, or why, I don't really know. But right before he betrayed the crew, and stabbed Thatch, he somehow found out about Ace's foster brother."
"Foster… so then,"
"Not Rogers," Marco said. "Ace is the last surviving member of his family. So, he is really close with his two adopted brothers- Sabo and -Luffy."
"How did Teach know about them, if we didn't even know?"
"He only knew about one of them, the younger one. And nobody really knows. But it doesn't matter how he did it. He did it. Teach kidnapped Luffy along with Thatch in order to blackmail Ace into helping him. I tried to help him but… things got messy."
"What does that mean?"
"It means Teach did not like it- and told Ace that either he killed me or they would torture his little brother to death."
"And!"
"And, Ace's other brother, the one Teach didn't know about, was a revolutionary, and you know how they are."
"A pain in the ass."
"In this case," Marco said, "a pain in Teach's ass, a crafty one. So, the two of them double crossed Teach."
"And you?"
Marco frowned, looking out over his siblings. Sometimes being one of the older ones was annoying. "I'm not going to pretend it was very pleasant, but whatever happened is between me and Ace, alright. I'm wish he had just come to me. But I also understand why he didn't. And I don't know what would have happened if he had. If we would all be standing here now or not. So, while I appreciate it guys, I really do. If you decide to be angry about anything, it shouldn't be this. I can keep my own score- alright?"
Nobody said anything, but Marco knew he had made his point. They were pirates, they knew better than to charge on, wearing someone else's flag pretending without permission to act out under it's name.
"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but Ace was protecting me, in his own way. He convinced Teach we were all dead. And after that, we were free of him. Free to find out where he was. That might be the only reason Thatch is still with us."
"Yeah," Thatch added, "Not sure if I get a vote here. I mean, you guys have had such a tough go of it and everything, one day I hope to understand you brave souls." There was a touch of affection in his words, twisted with his usual humor. "But I'll be honest, if Ace and Marco hadn't shown up when they had…" he trailed off, struggling to find the words for the horrors he had witnessed. "Things were about to get really really dark. I've seen some stuff, and if it was my time then it was my time. But I am glad I didn't have to die like that." He trailed off, realizing the crowd was silent. No one daring to say a single word to that. Afterall, what could one say to that. Which was not Thatch's intention to twist the knife. Even as he forced his easy smile back onto his face. "Besides, the only reason I made it this long is because of Ace's little brother- Luffy- he kept me sane, and always amused." Talking about him hurt. Made the back of his throat go dry. Especially considering he didn't know if he would ever…. Yeah, no. Not right now. Not here. He forced himself to go on, as all eyes were on him. "I got to know him pretty well- and he's so much like Ace, I still can't believe they're not actually related." Nature over nurture and all that. Except if Ace had the personality of a puppy on a sugar high. "Like a month in, I almost died from the stab wound. Luffy managed to escape, he would have made it too, but he came back for me- to help me." And he had never stopped paying for it. "-And some really bad things happened to him afterwards. He's only a kid, he didn't deserve that…" Thatch trailed off once again, unsure of how to continue. He didn't want to dig into this wound. But he wanted them to understand. They would likely never meet Luffy, at least not… not according to Marco. Which – made Thatch sad, because he had always thought that if they had gotten the chance, they would have adored him, that he would endlessly amuse them, like Ace did. It was one of the things that kept Thatch going through all those dark cold days. The thought of his family being together once again. His new little brothers coming home. Luffy being safe, and cared for, with Ace, and finally all of them- together. But the world could be a cruel bitch when it wanted to. He blinked, trying to push past this. "Anyways," he said, his tone a bit rougher. "I'm still grateful. It's a favor I really wanted to return… but I'm not sure I can." If he had just managed to hold onto Luffy back then, then maybe things didn't need to be this way. But, Thatch could do his best with what he had. "So please guys, I know everyone's been through a lot. But so have they. So please be nice to Sabo- and…" and hopefully one day Ace as well if he ever… Thatch didn't know what else to say. Or he didn't want to say the rest. 'Have you guys ever given up everything, to save someone who might die anyways'. So he just smiled at his brothers and sisters, their faces ebbing away the hurt. He couldn't wait for the day to come when they would stop looking at him like that. Like he was a fragile thing. But right now, he hoped it meant they would listen to his words.
Whitebeard took over for him, which Thatch was grateful for. "Until the day our paths cross with Teach again, this is the only conclusion there is. Even if it was not the one we wanted. I am sorry you all, I really am. I know things have been hard lately. But I have every confidence in you all. Afterall, we're pirates. Freedom and heart ship are often one of the same. I know everyone always knows that. So, if there is something you don't know, that you feel everyone ought to- now would be the time to ask."
It was Namur who raised his arm, face thoughtful as ever. "Ace's brother is… human?"
Marco made a conscious point not to look at Thatch. "Of course he is."
"Then," the man said, "how did he do that?"
"What?"
"You know," the man's eyes moved between Whitebeard and Marco. "Control the sea kings?"
Oh dear.
"Oh, for the love of- he wasn't controlling them," Thatch said, answering before anyone else could. "I promise if he could do that, then I doubt he wouldn't have stayed in that place this whole time."
"It looked like he was," the man said.
"We both know that's impossible," Thatch said.
"Then what was that?"
That was… honestly just Luffy. Thatch had seen the same thing as they had. And he was equally unable to come up with a logical explanation without buying into Marco's- he's a mythical demon- theory. But no one here really knew Luffy. And Thatch knew that even at his absolute worst, Luffy would never take command of creatures and force them to kill everyone. It just simply wasn't his way. Although, he did believe that the kid had every intention of murdering Akainu for what he had done to his brothers. That was his target. Why the sea king had humored him, even dying for him was just… well- it was the sort of thing Thatch would have done in that moment. To try and kill the person who had wronged him so much. To protect him when the world was falling apart around him. To stay with him.
It was just- the effect Luffy had on people. You couldn't help but want to help him. Because he deserved it. Apparently even a giant monster had enough in common with them to recognize it.
"We still don't know-," Marco was saying, tangling over himself with words, while Oyaji just looked more amused at the whole thing. At watching his children scramble for an answer.
But Luffy had already told them the answer- he had cracked the riddle of the giant water lizard, to all of them- they just hadn't believed him.
"Because it was his friend," Thatch said, realizing he sounded all the way insane. "I guess some monsters are nice, like this one. And it protected him from the marines."
And surprisingly enough, nobody knew quite what to say to that.
XXX
Luffy's reflection has red eyes. Bright red, like fresh blood. They were almost glowing. He looked amused, like trying to hold onto a good joke.
Which was strange, because at the moment Luffy couldn't feel further from smiling. He barley remembered the last time he had actually laughed.
Yet, here he stood. Looking as content and amused with the world as he always was. Just waiting for an excuse to laugh, to smile, waiting for the next adventure.
He bit his lip, eyes tracing his reflection. Trying to make sense of it. All the while feeling his nose start to sting. He felt like he was about to break down, to crack into pieces.
His reflection stared back, a steady grin growing on his face as he watched Luffy.
"Why are you sad?"
Why was he sad?
He didn't know. Certainly, it was rare for him. Fragments, bits and pieces of dark thoughts swirled around him, and he tried to ignore these the best he could. He didn't want to see them. Didn't want to look too closely. Because he knew it would hurt.
"Why are you sad?" he repeated, the smile on his twins face only grew as he shook his head in wonder.
Luffy sniffed, wiping his stinging nose. He couldn't help it.
He reflection stepped closer; eyes glowing. "You can't be sad? Not you."
Luffy could, and he was, and he did. Certainly, it didn't happen that often. But it did happen. Afterall, there was a reason his brothers called him crybaby.
As if he could read his mind, the red eyed creature pushed closer still. "No, you can't. Not after you won. Not after you got everything you wanted. Not after you got your way… as always?"
Clearly red-eyed Luffy had been talking to Ace.
But Luffy had never been that interested in apologizing for how he felt.
"You chose this," he insisted. "You DID! This is what you wanted. You should smile."
Luffy- the regular one with regular eyes and a watering nose- shook his head. That was the last thing he felt like doing. And still his reflection pushed closer, almost like he wanted to push into him, bump up against him, those red eyes never looking away.
"We saved your brothers, we saved your friends, we saved you. You escaped, your free now, you can do whatever we want!"
If that was all true? Then why was Luffy still alone. Why was he still trapped. Why did he feel like this. Why did he feel like he was about to break apart.
"Come on," his twin promised, reaching out to put his hands on his shoulders, holding him there. Red eyes unblinking. "This is what you wanted," he repeated. "And now we can have it-,"
"Have what?"
He felt the others hands move from his shoulder to around him, pulling him into a hug, his voice warm in the dark.
"Everything."
XXX
It was really dark. And kind of cold. And it smelled like antiseptic.
His memories were all scrambled together- blood pain, being cold, dark, lonely, being in hell, of demons laughing at him, of being kids and watching the stars together on the roof, of drowning, of flying through the air like a dragon, of watching the sky fall out of the sky.
It hurt his head to try and piece them all together. So he didn't bother.
Sabo was sitting on the edge of the bed. Book on his lap as usual. Even through the darkness, Luffy could make out the slight glint of the light hitting his pale hair.
'You're okay'
He remembered Sabo telling him that. He was okay.
Ace lay besides him. Although he wasn't really paying attention. His back to Luffy, facing the wall, not so much as stirring when Luffy shifted.
Okay-
Moving slowly, feeling almost weightless, he pulled his legs from under the blankets, towards his chest swinging them over the side of the bed.
His feet were bare and cold against the wooden floor. Small pains stabbing up his body when he moved to stand. But they felt distant, far away.
Still his legs trembled under his weight, threatening to give. It was only the weightlessness of him that held him on his feet. He only managed to make it a step before Sabo was on him.
The blond boy, moving inhumanly fast, had gone from focusing on the book, to by his side, his hands on his shoulders.
Luffy was at his own reflection- blood red eyes- hands holding onto him
"Luffy!" Sabo's face was pale, eyes wide. Hands gently pushing him until Luffy fell back, sinking down to sit on the edge of the bed, anchored there by his brothers' hands.
He stared back up at him, into the familiar face.
"Oh my g-," Sabo said, keeping one hand on Luffy's shoulder, the other one reaching out, almost hesitantly. Like he thought Luffy would bite him if it got too close. Which… he had done before- but only when meat had been involved or the few times, he remembered fighting with the kinder of his brothers.
"Luffy!" Sabo's fingers brushed his cheek, warm compared to the coldness of the room. He was kneeling now in front of him so they were eye level. Luffy felt the calloused thumb stroke his cheek, his brothers other hand tightening on his shoulder, fingers digging into it. Then the fingers on his face inching down, tugging his jaw up a centimeter so Luffy was looking back at him, again.
He met Sabo's gaze evenly, if not a bit confused. Waiting to see what he wanted. But whatever it was, his brother didn't say. Pushing forwards with a half-swallowed sound his arms were around Luffy, holding him there against his chest tightly. Like he thought Luffy would try to slip away if he gave him the chance.
It hurt a little, the distant stabs of pain growing a little bit closer as Sabo held him. He felt his chest protest, asking for more air, and black spots danced around him. He must have made a noise, because Sabo pulled back, still not letting him go.
"Oh my god, Lu," he said again, his hand on his face, his hair, his other arm on his shoulder, pulling him closer. "Are you okay?"
Of course he was. He had to be. That's what people kept telling him, over and over, you're okay- you're okay.
He looked around them, at the dark room. He didn't like it here much. He had the feeling he had been here before. That there were demons here.
Sabo shifted, moving from kneeling in front of him, to sitting on the bed besides him, his arm still over his shoulder, in a one arm embrace. He looked like he wanted to go back to squeezing the air out of him again but held back.
"They said- I thought- and Ace…" for once in his life words seemed to be failing Sabo, as he stumbled his way through them. Luffy's brow furrowed, wondering if he was okay?"
Blue eyes never left his face. "Luffy are you…" he stared, trailing off, which Luffy was glad off. That question was starting to confuse him more than anything. "Say something," Sabo said instead, squeezing his shoulder, pulling him closer.
Say what? Like the word something?
Pale face splattered in blood-
Eyes finding his in the crowed, watching horror well up on the others face-
Where are they?
"Lu?"
Luffy moved this time, lifting his hand, his fingers poking into Sabo's cheek. It was solid beneath his touch. Real and there. That was good. Really good. Even without needing to think, he knew he had to make sure this time.
Sabo's hand came up, wrapping around his fingers and gently pulling it away from his face. That was a bit unfair, Luffy reasoned. Like Sabo was the only one who could randomly keep trying to touch his face. But the second Luffy tried- Sabo stopped him.
It was like when they were kids, and Sabo woke him up all the time in the mornings to head out to hunt. But the one time Luffy returned the favor he got yelled at. Sure, maybe he didn't need to jump that high, maybe aiming for the others stomach had been a bit unfair, and sure, maybe he should have waited for the sun to come out first, and maybe the battle cry hadn't been strictly necessary- but all in all it was just unfair. Hippogriffs- that's what they were, a bunch of Hippogriffs.
"Luffy?"
Sabo was still staring at him.
Ace had laughed. Luffy remembered that. Ace, who could be grumpy in the mornings…. And into the day as well- had woken up laughing so hard he had to hold his ribs. Watching the two of them, Sabo's, holding his bruised stomach, chasing Luffy around their tiny home. Their bare feet pattering against the wood.
Grab him- a small voice inside Luffy said- Grab him and don't let go. Because if he didn't- Sabo would just slip away. And this time he wouldn't come back.
Watching them being buried in a tidal wave of fire-
Luffy shook his head. Not wishing to pick at the scabs that swirled around him. Sabo was right here. They both were.
"Lu," Sabo tried again, hands once again on his face like the unapologetic hippogriff he was. He turned Luffy's chin back towards him, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Say something, tell me you can hear me."
Not to be mean but… wasn't Sabo supposed to be smart or something? At least smarter than Luffy. If his brother was just as confused as he was, then they were in trouble.
Say something? - he wracked his brain trying to think of something to say. What did people say? What did Sabo want to hear.
Sorry for jumping on top of you at five in the morning when we were kids?
No, Luffy knew Sabo would then have to ask 'which time'
"Something," Luffy finally said, his voice soft to his own ears, and strangely scratchy. Like he hadn't used it in a while.
Besides him, Sabo's eyes grew larger still. Emotions flickering across his face- worry- relief- fear- and what might be the slightest hint of annoyance.
"Something else," he told him.
"Something else," Luffy repeated.
And there was no denying it this time, Sabo was exasperated, although it was quickly overcome with something else as he once again moved, pulling Luffy into another hug- although he was gentler this time. Holding Luffy against his chest like he was a fragile and breakable but precious piece of spun glass. He sighed, Luffy feeling him relax slightly. Like he was letting go of something. But he didn't let him go.
"Ah, Lu," Sabo breathed- "I am…." He trailed off, his hands tightening. When he spoke again his voice was different, broken, "-I am so sorry."
For what?
'You got your way…. As always'
Still, Luffy didn't try to wiggle free. His brother was warm, and solid, and for the moment he was being really gentle with him. Almost like he could see that Luffy was full of cracks. Instead, he rested his chin on Sabo's shoulder, letting his heavy eyes slide closed.
He wanted to go- go- outside. Escape this maze of cold dark stone halls, full of demons and monsters. He wanted to be back under the sun. To feel it on his cold skin. To watch the ocean swell.
It was what he wanted, and he always found a way to get what he wanted. Even if it killed him.
He wondered now, if he tried to leave, if it would end up the same as last time. If the door didn't open, if it never opened. If he would be trapped in this room, hiding when the monsters came. Or if he did break out, he would be forced to wander the maze-like corridors forever, somehow only going deeper and deeper under the ground.
And the harder he struggled- the worse things became.
He stirred, fighting against the comforting pull of sleep. "Sabo?" His voice was still softer than it should be.
"Mm-hm?"
"Are we dead?"
Sabo let him go then, concern on his eyes as he drew away, his face searching Luffy's. "No, Lu," he sounded worried. "No, we're all still here."
Luffy nodded, his gaze drifting to the door.
"Hey," Sabo was still being gentle. Moving his attention back to him. "You're free Lu, your here with us okay." He rubbed his numb arms, as if trying to push warmth back into them, to make him believe it.
Maybe he would if he was outside, and not back here, locked away underground. Maybe if he could see the sun, and feel the fresh air on his face.
But he was tired, just sitting upright in Sabo's arms was a lot for him. He didn't know if he had the same strength he had before, to run through hell, even scared, and cold, and dead as he was. If the monsters came back, he didn't know if he could fight them anymore.
He glanced back at the door. Itching to see if it would open for him.
"Can we," his voice failed, and it took a moment for him to find it again. "Can we go?"
Sabo was frowning again, he glanced at the door, and then back at Ace behind them. "Not right now," he told him. "Later okay, when Ace wakes up."
Luffy huffed, his breath shallow. He didn't know if that meant, in an hour, or next year, or when Sabo figured how to escape the maze, if they even could.
"Promise?"
"Promise," he squeezed him a little tighter.
And Luffy held onto that. Because, while he didn't know a lot at the moment, he knew his brother wasn't a liar. So, if he said they weren't dead, then this wasn't hell. And if he said he would get him out, then he believed it. Even if he had to wait.
He tipped his head back, letting the other one keep him upright. He wondered if he should try and hide before he passed out. To make it harder for the monsters to find him. But as long as one of them was still awake was probably fine. Then, Luffy could just be tired.
"Hey, Lu?" Sabo's voice was getting a bit further away, and he struggled to keep his eyes open.
"Hm?"
He felt the other press his lips into his hair softly, before tucking Luffy's head under his chin, letting him fall against his shoulder.
"I love you- you know that, right?"
Like water was wet.
For someone so smart, Sabo could be so dumb.
But unlike his previous, 'you're okay!- You're okay?'s – he knew Sabo wasn't actually asking. He was telling him. "I love you - and you know it."
Luffy almost smiled, feeling the corner of his mouth turn up ever so slightly even as he fell further. "You're so weird." His words muffled. Parroting back the words Sabo had always told him.
"Yeah," he heard his brother answer. "We are."