Author's Note: Hi wonderful readers~ Here's an update for ya'll! Hope you enjoy it :) Only three more to go!
To Sandraroundy09: You're very welcome :) Thank you so much for reading!
To billsazguard, Vinay-kox01, and emilycarter1410: Thank you for reaching out, but I am not interested at this time. Hope ya'll have a good day!
WARNINGS:
- Threats of death/attempted murder
- Corruption
- Mentions of child abandonment
- Rescue mission!
Though it was only a few minutes, waiting for 'the signal' felt like an eternity. Luffy, feeling extremely restless, couldn't stop himself from shifting his weight back and forth nervously. Adding to the tension was the sound of activity from inside the headquarters of the Shikari. It was obvious that they were mobilizing their forces.
"Any day now…" Ace muttered from his side, clearly also feeling impatient. Sabo sent them an amused smile before returning his focus in front of them. Everyone was waiting on the Whitebeards and Zoro's Dad. Luffy eyed the wolfsbane plants not far away. No one seemed to know how Marco and the others were going to deal with them…but hopefully it wouldn't be too much-
Suddenly, a high-pitched sound cut through the air, making him wince instinctively. It was shrill and echoed in his ears even after it went silent. What was that?
"The signal." Sabo whispered, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smirk. Beside them, Ace shook his head in annoyance and scowled.
"That bastard, using a freaking dog whistle."
Was that what that was?
Before Luffy could ask any more questions, sounds of yelling drew his attention. He peeked around Sabo and his jaw dropped to the floor. A group of lycans were rushing the building, yelling what could only be described as a war cry at the top of their lungs. What made the scene even stranger was that they wore bright-yellow hazmat suits and each carried a menacing looking piece of equipment.
A gun maybe? Or something else…?
"Oh my." Sabo stated as they watched the lycans flip the switches on their weapons and let a wave of fire flow over the evil plants that kept them from their goal. "Who knew Whitebeard had access to…flamethrowers."
"I have so many questions." Ace added with an incredulous look on his face, before huffing and standing to his feet, "But whatever. Can't deny their effectiveness. You ready, Luffy?"
"Yeah, I think so." He answered, joining them with hands clenched tightly into fists. It was finally time.
"Stay close. We're going in."
Once most of the wolfbane was burning aggressively, the other lycans began to make their approach. As expected, the doors of the building were thrown open and humans rushed out, armed with ominous looking weapons including guns and even spears. Luffy disliked the menacing silver glow all the metal had. It made something inside of his gut twist.
"All of their weapons are made of silver." Sabo explained to him as they waited for an opening in the initial clash. Luffy winced when one of the Shikari was bitten and shaken before thrown to the ground, moaning in a growing puddle of blood. Though he knew Whitebeard had given instructions to try not to kill…it was still brutal, nonetheless. "Don't let it touch you. It's deadly to our kind, much like the wolfsbane."
"Watch out, coming through!"
Luffy's attention was drawn to a red blur as a familiar form rushed past them, followed closely by a large group of young lycans. He couldn't help but smile as he recognized Jaggy and his pack, even as they slammed into the Shikari like a large ocean wave. They quickly forced the humans back with aggressive attacks and eventually managed to form a hole right down the center.
"Now's our chance." Another, deeper voice said from behind them. Luffy looked over his shoulder but knew who it was based on his scent alone. Shanks. The older red-haired lycan had a tense expression on his face but seemed determined. Ace growled softly at him but didn't say anything. "Let's head in while we can."
"Um, we aren't going to let those get out of control…are we?" Sabo put in while they made their way forward, motioning towards the garden beds still very much on fire. Benn, who was at Shanks' side, shook his head.
"Don't worry, it looks like Whitebeard's men are already taking care of it."
Luffy blinked in surprise when the yellow-suited lycans suddenly tossed their flamethrowers away and returned to the gardens, now armed with fire extinguishers. Wow, they really were prepared.
He supposed it wouldn't be good if the fire spread to the building, or beyond.
Luffy gasped in surprise when one of the Shikari tried to grab him as he passed, but the man was almost effortlessly kicked away by Marco, who seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Mind if I join you, yoi?"
"Not at all." Sabo replied in a friendly voice before Ace could say anything. The Alpha didn't look particularly pleased. "Where's Thatch?"
"You just passed him."
Luffy caught a glance of him just before they entered the building. Thatch had apparently gotten his hands on a fire extinguisher and was now using it against any Shikari who entered his range. He laughed rather maniacally as he covered some poor fellow in white foam. Luffy couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
The first room they stepped into was a lobby though most of the couches and chairs had been turned into a makeshift barricade. Thanks to the lycans outside, there weren't many left to stand in their way. Shanks and his men made quick work of any Shikari who attacked them, leaving those who shuffled away in fear alone.
"Okay, where to now?" Ace asked while kicking aside one of the barricades.
"Hmmm, not sure." Marco answered, "Mihawk said he would help guide us, yoi."
"He better not blow another damn whistle." Ace muttered under his breath while Marco approached what looked like a directory hanging on a nearby wall. Luffy joined the blonde and looked it over. It seemed to be a list of offices and other things…nothing special.
"It's this way." Shanks called, drawing their attention. He stood in front of a door in a side hallway, to the left of the elevators.
"How do you know?"
"Because," He replied, taking a moment to pull on the door handle. Luffy's eyes widened when the whole thing came apart in his hands and the door gently fell open. "Mihawk's scent is over here…and he apparently took the liberty to unlock the door for us."
While Luffy looked over the broken pieces with wide eyes, Ace and Sabo joined him and sniffed the air curiously.
"How can you pick his out from the mess of smells in here?"
"…I've known him a long time." Shanks answered, "I could identify it anywhere."
His answer seemed to frustrate Ace but, at Marco's urging, they all filed into the now open door. It immediately led them into a stairwell and Shanks took the lead, guiding them up multiple floors. Luffy tried to catch a whiff of the scent they were following but had no more luck than Ace and Sabo. Every once and a while, he thought he could faintly smell something that reminded him of Zoro, but it disappeared too quickly for him to be sure.
Shockingly, they came across no Shikari on their journey upward. Everyone seemed tense and ready for an enemy to jump out at any moment, but it remained quiet with the exception of the echoes of their footsteps. Sabo identified a few traps, but they'd all already been disarmed, making their ascent even easier. Breathing a bit heavier, Luffy huffed in relief when they finally reached the last floor. There was just a single door there, and Shanks wasted no time approaching it.
However, before he could reach out and open it, the door silently unlatched. The group immediately stopped, with many dropping into a fighting stance, until Shanks held up a hand.
"It's all right."
Luffy caught a brief whiff of that 'Zoro-like' smell before it vanished, seemingly into thin air. Shanks sidled up to the door and cracked it open, peering out into the hallway beyond.
"Was that-"
"Yeah, Mihawk." Shanks whispered, "We're getting close now. Be on your guard."
A few hours before…
Dragon didn't resist as he was led out of his cell and up towards the room where his 'trial' would take place. After being imprisoned for so long, his knees felt shaky and his muscles weak. He'd tried to exercise as much as was allowed, but between the regular interrogations and lack of food, he felt like his body was all but wasting away.
The two Shikari on either side of him held his restrained arms tightly, as if they were afraid of him trying to escape, but honestly, Dragon wasn't sure he had it in him.
After what felt like ages, he was brought to the highest level. He had to close his eyes as sunlight from the windows poured inside, causing spots to fill his vision. Being in darkness had not been good for him…not at all.
"We've brought the prisoner." One of his guards said as they stepped off the elevator. Dragon blinked the spots out of his eyes and tried to find whoever they were speaking to. He eventually identified the man in question and gave him his best glare. It was one of Akainu's subordinates, a man named Ryokugyu, or Aramaki to those he was close with. He was a cruel man with an ego just as large as Akainu's. His dark-green hair was wild and accentuated his crazed eyes that always seemed to be full of bloodlust.
"Good, it's about time for the trial to start." Ryokugyu replied, smirking down at him, "Would hate for you to be late to your own execution, Dragon."
"Go to hell." He snapped back, straightening up as much as he could. He'd, unfortunately, been on quite a few missions with Ryokugyu and could honestly say the man was absolutely barbaric. There were even times when the bastard had brazenly disobeyed direct orders and killed lycans they'd intended to capture alive.
Dragon believed the only reason he still had a job was because Akainu approved of his methods.
Ryokugyu just laughed at his response and motioned for the guards to follow him. Eventually, they deposited him in the makeshift courtroom's waiting area, allowing him a moment to catch his breath. The room wasn't very large but he knew that one of the two doors would lead him out into the room where his fate would be decided.
Of course, he knew that the whole thing was nothing but a farce. Akainu had no doubt taken every precautions to make sure he would be convicted regardless of what his father tried to do. They hadn't even bothered to assign him a proper defender seeing as he was already branded a 'traitor'. Normally, such a thing would be illegal, but the Shikari operated differently than normal human government. A fact he used to take pride in.
Dragon was at the mercy of his accuser and the only person he could rely on to defend him…was his father, Garp. A thought that didn't fill him with confidence. Garp had initially just intended to testify as a 'witness', but when he discovered that Dragon would have to defend himself with no support, he'd volunteered to fill that role.
They left him in that room with his guards for almost thirty minutes before finally moving him into the trial area. Dragon eyed the 'jury' and judge, disliking their haughty and distrustful expressions. None of them were people he would consider friends.
'I can almost see them counting the money Akainu bribed them with.' Dragon thought with a huff as he was escorted to his seat on the left of the main aisle. Though the viewing area was large, there were hardly any people in attendance. He was surprised to see Mihawk there and widened his eyes slightly when the man sent him a serious look before nodding as if to reassure him.
…was that his way of letting him know that Luffy was okay?
Soon after they locked gazes, however, Mihawk was approached by a guard at the door and apparently asked to leave. Dragon watched him step out of the room and sighed again, partly from stress and partly from relief. Having hope that Luffy was okay lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
A few minutes later, Garp joined him, dressed in a fancy suit and holding a stack of papers that Dragon assumed was evidence to try and help get him a favorable verdict.
"…you look terrible."
"I know." Dragon replied, sending his father an unamused look, "Being locked in a cell will do that to you."
"Are you injured?"
Dragon was surprised to hear a hint of concern in Garp's voice.
"…nothing serious."
His father didn't reply and simply turned his attention to the main doors when Akainu finally entered. The man hadn't even bothered to dress formally and had Ryokugyu on his heels. Both bastards looked smug…sure of their victory.
"Now that we're all here." The Judge said in a bored voice before reaching for a piece of paper in front of him, "Let the trial of Monkey D. Dragon commence. You stand accused of treason against the Shikari and the human race. How do you plea?"
"Not guilty!" Garp all but shouted, startling the judge.
"…very well." He muttered while readjusting his glasses, "The defendant may plead his case and then we will hear from the prosecution. Please begin whenever you're ready."
Garp spent time highlighting Dragon's accomplishments in the organization as well as his loyalty over the years. Even though he'd transferred cities and jurisdictions multiple times, he'd always done his job well. No complaints were ever made against him. He was known as a very efficient worker and was generally well-liked.
'By most…' Dragon thought, eyeing Akainu. The man still looked smug and was just barely holding back a smirk as Garp continued his defense.
As his father regaled the jury with practically his whole career, Dragon couldn't help but think back on his time as a Shikari. Garp hadn't given him much of a choice when it came to the job and had put him through hell as a child, something he'd tried his best not to repeat with Luffy. Early in his career, he easily made a name for himself and was rising through the ranks until…
"W-what…a baby?"
"He's your son, so he's your problem."
"You can't just leave him-"
Luffy happened.
He vividly remembered the day Luffy's mother dropped the boy off like he was some sort of delivery at only a few weeks old. Dragon barely knew her and their hook up had been nothing special…or so he thought. She didn't tell him she was pregnant until after Luffy was born and had no intention of raising him.
So, though very unsure about the whole thing, Dragon became a single father. He'd even been the one to name Luffy since his mother hadn't bothered, saying she didn't want to get attached to him.
Naturally, his career as a Shikari became much more difficult after that. It was incredibly hard to balance fighting monsters and raising a child. A small blessing was that Luffy was generally a happy baby and easy to please, though very clumsy. Dragon couldn't help but smile as he recalled how adorable his son was as a baby. He wished he'd taken more pictures.
…wished he'd spent more time with his son instead of focusing so much on work.
He was drawn out of his thoughts when Garp concluded his defense and returned to the chair next to him. Dragon glanced at the jury and wasn't encouraged. They all still looked at him darkly, like they hadn't been swayed at all.
Next, Akainu stood up and made his way to the front.
Dragon frowned at the man, old anger finding its way up to the surface. Akainu had done many terrible things in the past, both against him and other Shikari…but especially lycans. Some incidents had been so horrific, the memories often gave him nightmares. One in particular prompted him to actually launch a private investigation into Akainu, which revealed just how long his brutality had been going on.
Naturally, he'd intended to bring the evidence to the National Shikari Board but had been prevented from doing so for a number of reasons. The first being the aftermath of Red-Hair's attack and attempted kidnapping of Luffy. It had taken quite a bit of time and negotiation to tend to Luffy and ensure he wouldn't be executed. The other reason was blackmail from the bastard in question. Dragon clenched his jaw at the memory.
"You'd better watch yourself, Dragon. If you're not careful, a certain lycan may just stumble upon you and that mongrel of yours. Wouldn't that be a shame?"
Seeing as Akainu was essentially responsible for that whole horrible incident, Dragon hated how easily he not only got away with it but gained power over him and his family.
"We are an agency of justice." The bastard began, addressing the jury, "Our duty is to protect the human race from monsters, something Dragon threw away the second he decided to raise a lycanthrope."
Akainu practically spit his name like a curse.
"I was against this, knowing it would corrupt him, but he was given leniency and allowed to raise the mongrel as if it was human. In doing so…Dragon gained something truly dangerous: compassion." Akainu walked around the small area with his hands behind his back, sending Dragon a steely glare when their gazes met. "And now we see where that mistake has led us. Not only did his son awaken to his lycan blood, but he assaulted his own men while the mongrel escaped out into the wild. Who knows how many humans have fallen victim to him…"
'Luffy would never attack someone!' Dragon thought, mouth curling up into an angry snarl. Lycan or not, there wasn't an evil bone in his son's body.
Akainu continued to tear into him, dragging his reputation and character through the mud with 'evidence' of his treachery, most of which wasn't true or an exaggeration of the truth. He also painted Luffy, his sweet, adorable son, as a ruthless monster who was probably out killing people thanks to Dragon facilitating his escape. Even Garp was clearly getting angry at his nonsense, though he managed to hold himself together.
"Thank you, please return to your seat." The Judge said once Akainu had finished. Garp looked just about ready to murder the man. "I will give the jury some time to deliberate and then we will read the verdict."
As expected, they didn't have to wait long seeing as the jury didn't have much to deliberate on. All too soon, the lead juror stood and read out Dragon's sentence.
"We find the Monkey D. Dragon guilty of high treason against the human race."
Garp cursed under his breath and Dragon grit his teeth in frustration.
"…as expected." The Judge muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard, "For your crimes, you are to be executed forthwith. Let us be done with his horrid business." As the gavel dropped, Garp leapt to his feet.
"What!? You can't be serious!"
"I will not be questioned. The court has decided." The Judge drawled on as if he hadn't just casually sentenced a man to death. "Take care of this as you see fit, Sakazuki."
"Yes, Your Honor." Akainu answered while turning towards Dragon with his men fanned out behind him. Ryokugyu in particular had a murderous glint in his eyes. "Well…a shame how this turned out."
"You son of a-"
"This is an official decision, Garp. You cannot overturn it…that is, unless you want to be charged with treason as well."
His father went silent at that, hands clenched tightly in anger. Dragon simply stood to his feet during the exchange and faced the man with head held high. Though weakened by captivity, lack of food, and physically restrained, he would not simply lay down and die.
'Luffy…I have to get back to him!' Dragon thought, picturing the boy in his mind. There were still so many things he wanted to say to his son. So many things he wanted to be there to witness as he grew up. 'I can't die now, not when I have so many regrets!'
"Are you actually going to resist?" Akainu asked in a mocking tone while pulling his gun out of its holster, "I suppose that might make this a little more interesting."
Just as the man raised the weapon and leveled it at Dragon's chest, the door into the courtroom all but exploded off its hinges. Startled by the noise, the people in the room screeched, many ducking behind desks or whatever else they could find. Dragon simply remained frozen in place, eyes widening as a group of people forced their way into the room.
The posted guards attempted to stop them but were easily thrown aside like they were nothing but children.
"W-What the hell…?"
"How did you find this place?" Akainu snarled, lowering his gun, "What are those idiots doing!?" Based on the man's reaction, it seemed he knew about the invaders. Who was bold enough to attack their headquarters? With a frown, Dragon focused on the newcomers as the dust cleared and his eyes went wide in shock.
They were lycans, every last one of them.
'That's Marco, from Whitebeard's pack.' Dragon thought, body tense as his eyes looked over the others. His eyes went even wider when he recognized the young Alpha he'd entrusted Luffy to. What was he doing here? There was also a young blonde he didn't recognize and an even smaller one in a red hoodie, though he couldn't see their face.
Dragon's blood went cold when his eyes found 'Red-Haired' Shanks.
The Alpha was accompanied by Benn Beckman, his beta, and looked just as fierce as the last time he'd encountered him. Shanks examined him with a neutral expression, but Dragon could tell the man hadn't lost any of his hatred for him based on body language alone. For his part, all he could see was the bastard sinking his teeth into his baby boy's neck, showering his infant son in blood.
Dragon scowled at the lycan instinctively, but found his curiosity overwrote his rage for just a moment.
…why was he here? What the hell was going on?
"Sorry to interrupt, yoi." Marco said firmly, stepping forward to address them. He looked at Akainu's weapon and then glanced to Dragon. "We would like to request you hand Monkey D. Dragon over to us."
"What?" He muttered to himself in surprise as Garp immediately stepped in front of him.
"I don't know what you're all doing here, but I won't let you take my son."
"Seeing as it looks like he's going to killed…" Benn Beckman put in as he assessed the situation, "Coming with us is clearly the better option."
Before Garp could reply, Akainu began to chuckle darkly, drawing everyone's attention. Even the Judge peeked up over his desk at the sound.
"You see!? He is clearly in league with them! Who knows how long he's sold our secrets to the monsters!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Dragon found himself yelling back, "I have been nothing but loyal to the Shikari!"
"And yet here you are." Akainu answered, taking a moment to gesture to the courtroom, "Convicted of treason, sentenced to death…and the only ones here to help you are lycans. I think the evidence speaks for itself."
With a dark smirk, the bastard re-aligned his gun, this time pointing it straight at Dragon's head.
"So let's carry out your sentence right here and now."
When Akainu pulled the trigger, it was like time slowed down. Dragon knew he had to move, but found his weak body simply didn't have the reactions it used to. Cursing inwardly, he watched the bullet exit its chamber and make its way towards his head.
However, before the bullet could sink into his skin, something bright red flashed across his vision and he was thrown to the floor. The impact was rough and knocked the breath out of him, but seeing as he wasn't dead, it wasn't right to complain. Getting his bearings, Dragon looked up at the figure who'd saved his life.
They panted on top of him, red hood still pulled over their head. But this close, Dragon could make out their features, and his heart almost stopped.
"…L-Luffy?"
Luffy winced in pain and could feel blood dripping down his shoulder and onto his arm, but he chose not to focus on that. Instead he met his father's shocked gaze for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
It had taken all of his self-control not to rush to Dragon's side the second he laid eyes on him. Only Shanks' stern and insistent scent kept him in place, that is, until the mean looking man in the hat raised his gun and pulled the trigger.
A feeling he'd never experienced before suddenly overcame him. It made his blood boil and his inner wolf howl. Faster than he knew he could move, Luffy leapt forward and just barely managed to knock Dragon out of the way. Unfortunately, though the bullet missed his Dad, it did hit him in the left shoulder and the wound throbbed painfully.
…not that it mattered. He was finally reunited with his family.
"Dad…you're okay." Luffy managed with a shaky smile, trying to hide the fact that he was hurting. "I-I'm so glad."
Dragon quickly sat up and gently removed his hood, revealing his ears for all to see. Luffy ignored all of the whispers from the Shikari around and simply leaned into his father's gentle touch as he placed a hand on his cheek.
As if to make sure he was real.
"Y-You're alive." Dragon whispered, voice breaking. Looking more emotional than Luffy had ever seen him, the man pulled him in for a tight hug. "Thank God…"
Luffy couldn't stop himself from tensing at the touch due to pain but wrapped his own arms around Dragon's waist, nonetheless. He'd missed him so much!
Unfortunately, their reunion was cut short.
"Tch, so the mongrel makes an appearance."
Luffy released him and whipped around so he was crouched protectively in front of Dragon. He growled at the man who'd tried to kill his Dad and his ears went back on his head. Was this the person who put him on trial?
"Akainu, enough of this!" Luffy had noticed Gramps as well upon entering the room and couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't tried to rescue his Dad earlier. Maybe he'd been prevented from doing anything?
"Get in my way, Garp, and I'll have you executed as well!" The man, 'Akainu', shouted, looking flustered, "I'll end this right now."
Luffy's eyes widened as the man readied his gun to fire on them again while his men all drew their own weapons. Determined to protect his Dad, Luffy didn't move and simply snarled at them while his Gramps looked ready to fight with fists up. However, before their enemies could do anything, Shanks appeared.
He watched in awe as the Alpha used his claws to cut the gun in two and swiftly knocked his enemy on the ground. Following his lead, Marco, Ace, and Benn also leapt into action and separated the leader from his men. Sabo, meanwhile, rushed to Luffy and Dragon's side.
"I'm sure you're confused, but I promise we're here to help." Sabo said while morphing into his hybrid form and gently picking the man up off the ground. Dragon just looked between the large, blonde wolf, Luffy, and Shanks with wide eyes.
"…why?"
His question was so quiet, Luffy wasn't sure anyone heard…that is until Shanks glanced over his shoulder.
"For Luffy…nothing more."