Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ace is 5 years old when his world is first flipped upside down.

He is 5 years old when he first curses his own existence.

5 years old when he first blames himself for his mother's death.

Ace is a measly 5-year-old boy, his knees scruffed up from where he fell earlier and freckles only just starting to appear. A small, and Dandan would never say this but she worries his growth might be a bit stunted, but surprisingly strong kid for only being 5 years old. It is late evening, the sun is setting and stars are starting to peek out when Garp sits him down.

*
The wind whips up around the boat, sea foam and flecks of water spraying into the air. Carrying the moist smell of seawater with it. Only now, hints of something earthier can be detected as the massive vessel, Marine written on its side approaches the dock of a small village. A marine captain on most days, a grandfather on a few, stands at the bow of the massive vessel, grim determination on his face. He knows that for better or worse he will be telling the young black-haired boy, living in the forest, about his father.
There is no easy or nice way to have this conversation with the kid. There was a reason Gol D. Roger was hunted down the way he was. A reason that, while the world government would never admit it, they couldn’t catch him until he turned himself in. To this day Roger remains the only member of his crew to ever have been caught. Tough at this point most of the former Roger pirates have faded into obscurity. Even the ones still wreaking havoc across the sea, have had their connections with the man erased in the public eye.

Briefly, an image of a young red-haired man flashes in Garp's mind. The brat was making more than enough waves across the Grandline and Garp wouldn’t be surprised if the kid managed to rise up to a similar position as his deceased captain. There was also the blue-haired brat, who if Garp wasn’t mistaken was roaming the East blue, making a lot less trouble, but trouble nonetheless.

Then there was the question of the kid's mother. Portgas D. Rouge. When she disappeared from the public eye the World Government started a search. But all of the Black-Jack pirates had disappeared along with their captain. Almost from one day to another. While Garp never could get the stubborn woman to tell him why, he was certain that she had disbanded her crew for much the same reason Roger had his. After a while, it was decided that erasing Black Jack Rouge from public history would be best. The fewer big-name pirates to drive the new generation the better. By the time Ace had been born, you couldn’t find any wanted posters of the woman or her crew. At this point, most people had forgotten about her.

Maybe it was best if it remained like that for Ace too. Garp didn’t know what the right thing to do in a situation like this was. He did know that no one would hunt the boy down for his relation to Rouge so long as her true nature was locked away in obscurity. Garp grimaced, but would it really be okay to only tell him about Roger? Would it be better to just tell it to him the way the World Government told it to everyone else? After all, even Garp himself knew that the Roger, Gold Roger. The one the people were told about wasn't the real Roger.

To paint his father in that same villainous light and his mother becoming just an ordinary citizen. Maybe it was best to let the boy come to his own conclusions, and tell him why his father wasn’t there and how his mother had protected him.

Garp's gaze lingered on the forested mountains. He still had a bit of time to decide.

*
Garp left his crew at the port trusting Bogart to run things. His first stop is Party’s bar, Luffy is almost 2 years old at this point and has been staying on Dawn for a year now. His youngest grandson is as happy as ever and a lively little toddler. Garp starts crying when the little guy stands up and walks toward him. Having not seen Luffy walk yet. Makino is giggling behind the bar, not used to seeing the stoic marine captain so emotional.

After his check-up with mayor Woop Slap, making sure everything for Luffy is still fine and taken care of, the old man resigns himself to his next task. The trip up the mountain takes longer than usual. The pass up Mt. Colubo feels steeper and even the wind seems to be pushing him back toward Foosha. It might just be a trick of the mind, his own weariness and hesitance showing through. But Monkey D. Garp has never been known to do anything in halves or to back down when he sets his mind to something. Something his son Dargon unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, had inherited.

The forest is as lively as ever, he feels the eyes of all the small critters hiding in the underbrush. Well, small might be an understatement, what Garp was calling small was the larger-than-average alligators, bears, and the tiger king. Really nothing in that was normal, not that the Marine Hero took any notice of that. While terrifying to the average person, to Garp the Fist, Hero of the Marines, they were nothing but small critters. No more of an inconvenience than a ladybug was to a child.

The Dadan Family household comes into view, Morgra is outside the hut putting up laundry. Garp gives the other man a wave as he saunters up to the house. Morgra seems to pale at Garp's appearance giving him a bow before rushing into the house. Garp presumes to fetch the old nag Dadan herself. He does consider that Morgra is getting Ace but the household seems too quiet for the brat to be in at the moment.

“Ah Garp, what a pleasant surprise, you weren't set to visit until next month.” Dadan looks nervous, her smile a bit too wide, but the bandit always does when Garp pops in unexpectedly, which is most times he visited

“I finished up my assignment early, decide might as well come now.” The marine picks at his nose, one hand in his pants pocket. giving off an air of boredom. He flicks a booger away from his hands with a small disgusted twitch of his lip before focusing back on the quiet house.

“Now where can I find my precious grandson?” Before Dadan or any of her bandits can respond a young voice comes from behind Garp.

“What is it you want Jiji?” Ace is walking towards them, a pipe over his shoulder and a bandage on one of his cheeks. The kid emanates annoyance as stops a few paces before Garp.

“Aaah Ace there you are, come give your grandfather a hug will ya.” Garp spreads out his arms and walks towards the black-haired boy. A large smile on his face, happy to see the kid no worse for wear since the last time he visited.

“Not a chance old man.” Ace tries to dodge out of the way as he yells it. But the response only seems to get an angry rise out of the elder.

“You should respect your elders some more, FIST OF LOVE, now give this old man a hug.” Garp’s fist connects with the top of Ace’s head, and the boy holds it in pain. ‘Eh, he’ll be fine’ not like Garp put any real power behind the punch. Ace gives in and Garp gets a hug from him.

Their talk can wait for a little while yet, the marine thinks. Garp would like to be selfish and leave without having to have this conversation. Garp knows that Ace doesn’t actually mind the hugs he gives him. The kid barely gets any attention as is, and tends to melt into the hugs he does get. Well, after having put up enough of a fight to seem opposed to the affection.

Leaving him with Dadan wasn’t Garp's first choice but it has done the kid well so far. Ace might only be 5-year-old but he was smart and knew when to run and when to fight. Out in the forest, no one would know his name, and no one would recognize his black locks. At least for now while the memory Gol. D Roger was still fresh in people's minds, Garp couldn’t take any chances. He would tell Ace what the government thought of his father, the boy should be weary to ever use his born name. In turn, he would leave Rouge as the mother who died protecting him. When he got older, when he was able to protect himself. Garp would tell him about the real Rouge and Roger. For now, this lie would be for the best.

*
Garp and Ace are sitting together around a campfire. Behind them, the sun is setting and you can just make out the first stars between the tree tops. Garp had gone through his usual training regiment with Ace. The kid was more exhausted than usual, Garp might have gone a bit overboard. In part due to his mind constantly wandering and worrying. For the most part, the two sit in silence, enjoying each other's company.

“Jiji you aren't usually this quiet-” Ace is cut off.

“Ace.” At the call of his name, the boy looks to his grandfather. Ace isn’t entirely sure, but he doesn't think he has ever heard his grandfather sound so serious.

“Do you know why you have to live in the forest?” The question takes him off guard and even more so the tone in which it is asked.

“Cause Dadan is the only one you can extort to look after me?” Ace thinks it's a valid answer, but Garp just gives him another fist of love.

“Ace, what I’m going to tell you is important you don’t tell anyone else. Alright.”

“Geeze alright.” Ace is rubbing the sore spot on his head, not really sure where this is going.

“Before you were born I made. A promise to your father that I would keep you safe. Even if that meant going against orders and the very foundation that I work for. I intend to keep that promise”

Ace I silent but Garp can tell the kid is listening.

“How much do you know about Gold Roger?” No point in beating around the bush. Not when he already got this far.

“Gold Roger? he was the king of pirates right- the people in grey terminal sometimes talk about him, saying he was the devil reincarnated. Jiji what does that have to do with my father.”

“Just listen- Before Roger was executed he told me he had a child on the way.”

“But that's…” It seems Ace is starting to see what he is getting at.

“That child was you Ace, and the man I made that promise to was Roger.”

“My father is Gold Roger-” He can’t lie to the kid after all, though he is uncertain whether Ace understands the weight of his words.

“No, your father is Gol D. Roger and your birth name is Gol D. Ace. That's the one your mother gave you anyway.”

“But Jiji you always said my name was Portgas D. Ace how can I be that man’s-” Garp knew that the question was coming-

“Portgas was your mother's maiden name. Her full name was Portgas D. Rouge. She carried you in her womb for 20 months- it's why she passed away. That woman was more stubborn than anyone I have ever known. Willing to defy nature itself to bring you into the world. But everything has a cost.” Garp can still see her face clearly enough like it was yesterday. How the woman had held Ace and with her dying breath had told Garp the kid's name.

“Nothing in this world comes for free, Ace.” It was a hard truth, but one that was important for the boy to understand even this young.

“She paid with her life, in a way so did he, the idiotic bastard.” Garp can’t help but curse Roger for his tenacity. The bastard knew what he was doing when he entrust Ace to him. Knew he wouldn’t let the government lay a hand on the kid's head, not for something he hadn’t done or even been born for.

“The world says he was a monster!” Confusion, pain, anger all of it is present in both the kid's eyes and voice. It will take time for Ace to truly understand what Garp is telling him.

“It does, and it will claim you to be one too because of the blood that runs in your veins should it ever be known who your father is.”

“But WHY Jiji? I’m not a monster, am I? Just because he was?” The desperation with which Ace says those words make Garp angry. Not at Ace but at the world. At the government, the very institution he pledges his livelihood too, for ever making his grandkid think such a thing.

“Of course not. That is why I took you in, why I gave you over to Dadan. Ace no child should have to pay for their parent's mistakes.” Garp wasn’t sure if Ace was actually listening anymore. Could only hope that his words and reassurances would reach the 5-year-old.

*
Jiji had left and Ace didn’t know what to think or how to feel. The old man had said that he wasn’t a monster just because he had the blood of one in his veins… He needs to know what people really think. Its the dumbest thing Ace has ever done, but he can't back down now.

The Grey terminal is filthy as always. Dadan doesn’t actually know that Ace sometimes takes trips down to the dump. At first, he had just been curious about the people who didn’t live in the forest like him and the bandits. For the most part, he tried to steer clear of the adults. Not because he was weak, but fighting people was a lot different than fighting animals or even gramps. Ace also hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet so he was small enough still that just picking him up was enough to restrain him.

He had his eyes set on one of the bars built against the outer wall of Low-town. people there didn’t even spare him a glance as he entered but he was on a mission. Ace steels himself taking a deep breath, and then;

“What would you think if Gold Roger had a kid?!”

At first, it goes quiet.

Then all hell breaks loose. The people laugh, mocking his question. Sneering curses his way.

“That's a dumb question, stupid should go die somewhere if it did exist.”

“I would hope that it and its whore mother both died in labor.”

“Kid, you shouldn’t go around saying things like that, I might just have to kill ya.”

And it continued like this. Devil child. Scum. Monster.

In the end Ace had to flee from the bar, tears running down his face. Maybe they were right, that someone like him shouldn’t be allowed to live. After all, he was the reason his mother had died. A demon child who killed their own mother. The very scum of the earth.

Chapter Text

Its a few weeks after they have exchanged cups of sake. At first Ace was over the moon. He was happy, genuinely happy. For the first time he had family, brothers- and yeah he had known Sabo for a few years but they hadn’t been brothers. For a long while there had still been doubts and the expectation of looking over his shoulder and finding the blond gone. But now, now they were bonded in spirit. No matter where their journeys would take them they would always have this. Have each other. It wouldn't matter what the world threw at them they could handle it together.

And he had Luffy too now. His precourse and adorable little brother- no their little brother. Whose smile was brighter than the sun. Even if not for himself, he would live for them, protect them, and make sure that Luffy never lost his smile. But then, thoes dark thoughts start to creep in. If they knew would they hate him? Hes a cursed being, someone who shouldn’t even be alive-

“Ace, I can see you brooding from over here what are you thinking about.” Sabos voice brings him out of his head. Sabo is giving him a look that says he knows all to well the kind of thoughts running through his head. Its a cross between the concerned look of a mother and a heated glare. Somehow managing to come of both as threatening and comforting at the same time. He looks away from Sabos grey eyes, instead focusing on Luffy who is throwing another ‘Pistol punch’ at their make shift target, only succeeding in hitting himself in the face. The kid falls on his ass, tears forming in his eyes.

The move seems to get Sabo’s attention as the blonde immediately moves his focus. Rushing over to check on Luffy. For once Ace is thankful for Luffy’s clumsiness.

“Lu damit. Are you alright, did you finally hurt yourself?” The blonde looks over Luffy’s face making sure that he isn’t actually hurt. Ace isn’t really worried, he can see from where he is standing, a few paces back, that Luffy isn’t bleeding. Sure enough Luffy’s wobbly voice confirms it.

“No. Its not that- I want to be as strong as Sabo and Ace, but my stupid punches keep messing up.” Luffy throws another punch from where he is sitting in frustration. Arm stretching out impossibly long, as his fist bounced off the tree, then a rock before hitting him in the face once more. Sending himself flying a few paces back. Ace can’t help the laugh he lets out, and Sabo sends him a small glare for it before turning back to the younger.

“Oh Lu! You got the right kind of power in your punch, you just need more practice.”

“Your really think so Sabo?”

“Sabos right Luffy, you just need more practice.”

“That being said you’ll never be stronger than us.”

“You just watch me, I’ll catch the biggest crocodile tonight!” With that its almost like Luffys little breakdown never happened in the first place. For a while thoes dark thoughts reeced back into the depths of Ace’s mind. He focuses on his brothers as they set out to hunt down their dinner.

*
The thoughts return after they have eaten. Ace makes up his mind. If anyone could accept him for who he was it would be his brothers.

“Gramps always told me to never tell anyone this but… We are brothers now, if I can’t trust you with this, can I really call myself your brother.”

“Ace.” Sabo says his name in a quiet whisper and even Luffy manages to go still. But Ace doesn't look at them, he keeps his gaze firmly on his own feet and the ground.

“When I tell you, if you don’t want me as a brother anymore I would understand that too.”

“Nothing Ace says could ever make me want to not have him as my brother.” Luffys words make him look up, and he has to rub his eyes hard to keep the tears away. He hasn’t even said anything yet, and here Luffy is claiming that their bond is unbreakable. His trust in Ace is unwavering.

“My father was Gol D. Roger.” Saying the words out like feels like lifting a steel blanket from his shoulders. Like the unseen weight of his birth suddenly isn’t just his to carry anymore. Its silent and then Luffy is yelling out, stars in his eyes.

“Ace your dad is the pirate king that is so cool” Of course Luffy would think it was cool that his father was a monster. The kid is running his mouth a mile a minute, asking questions Ace doesn’t have the answer to.

“Luffye settle down, your overwhelming him.” Sabo's words seem to reach their younger brother as Luffy quickly apologizes and sits back down. If he was honest Ace never really fared Luffy’s reaction. Always knew the simple-minded idiot would find something like that cool, that others would turn up their nose in disgust.

“Ace, I could never hate you for who your father was.”

“But my blood-

“No, your blood doesn't matter Ace. Does it matter that we aren't related by blood?” Ace shakes his head, he never cared that he didn’t share a blood relation with them before. Why should he now?

“YEAH what Sabo said, we love Ace no matter what.” Its the finality with which Luffy says thoes words that puts the smile back on Ace’s face as the conversation is put to bed.

*

Sabo breaks up the silence, standing so fast Ace almost falls over in surprise. He had noticed the blonde had been deep in thought since Ace told them about his father but this-

“Well, I haven’t been honest either. My parent's arent actually dead and I’m not an orphan from the grey terminal.” Was not what he expected.

Sabo takes a deep breath before he continues. Rushing out his story, almost like if he were to stop he wouldn't be able to start again.

“Both of my parents are alive and I was born a noble of high town. But i hated it there, everything and everyone was always so fake. No one actually cared about you they just cared about your status and how it affected you. I’m sorry i didn’t tell you two I was afraid that if you knew where I came from you wouldn’t want me as brother anymore.” Ace is stunned into silenced, the black haried boy just sits there staring wide eyed and open mouthed at the blond.

“That's dumb, both of you are dumb. Sabo is Sabo and Ace is Ace. I could never hate either of you, you're my big brothers.” Luffy’s words shake Ace out of his Stupor and he crsses his arms.

“What he said idiot.” and then after a moment.

“Are you crying Sabo?”

“No you are!” The blondes breath hitched as he rubs his definitely not wet eyes.

For the first time since learning the truth about who his father is Ace doesn't feel tied down by the knowledge. Luffy was right, both him and Sabo had been idiots. Who they were wasn’t determined by their parents or the life they lead, but by themselves. Ace had chosen Sabo and Luffy as his brothers and in turn they had chosen him. No thought to who any of their parents was. He also couldn’t tell Sabo that his blood didn’t matter if he really didn’t think so. In a way letting Rogers legacy control who he was would be like undermining how Sabo had escaped from his own gilded cage.

In that moment Ace decided that with Sabo and Luffy by his side, his blood would never bring him down like that again. Sure he still hated the man for bringing him into this world and burdening his mother. But Ace couldn’t hate himself in that same way with his brothers by his side.

*

After a while of just silence Sabo and Ace looked expectantly at luffy, the boy just pouts in turn. “What?”

“What about your parents Luffy?”

“I don’t have any.” Its said so mater of factly it almost throws the two older for a loop.

“No everyone has a mom or dad even if you don’t accept them, like me and Ace.”

“Well I don’t and even if I did i wouldn’t care since parents sounds shitty anyway.”

“Most parents arent shitty like my mom and dad or Ace’s dad.”

“Thats right, Luffy most parents really love their kids, they protect them and take care of them, tell them stories and encourage their dreams.” Luffy seems to think over thoes words for a while.

“Like Shanks!” Sabo and Ace give each other a look. Luffy had told them about Shanks before. The man who saved their kid brother’s life. The two seemed to come to the same conclusion that sure. A parent was kind of like what Shanks had been for Luffy those few months.

“Well, I guess, yeah kinda like Shanks.”

“Does that mean Shanks is my dad?” Ace and Sabo look at each other then at Luffy, from how bright his eyes are at the prospect of having Shanks as a dad. Hell the kid was almost vibrating out of his seat. Neither teen could really find it in them to correct him.

“Yeah, sure Luffy.”

*

Somewhere in the New World at the same time. A red-haired pirate stops mid-sentence and looks out over the ocean to the east.

“You okay there boss?”

“I feel like something just changed in me.”

“What?” Confused the first mate looks at his captain, but Shanks doesn't elaborate.

Chapter Text

The Spadille is bobbing slowly in the water. Her small crew is relaxing on deck, they have just finished the last of her repairs and are getting a much-needed break. Her captain, Ace, isn’t among the other crew members. Instead, the black-haired teen has hidden away in the captain's quarters, stressed out. It is not just because they just barely made it out of the storm in one piece. Ace is stressed because he has been thinking about telling them the truth about who he is. At the very least he wants to tell Duce, his first mate deserves to know who it is he is following. They all do really, but after Sabo, it doesn’t feel that simple to just tell them.

One day someone might find out, and the wrong people might learn who he is. If the crew learns about his father from some news article or enemy pirate. Ace would regret it for the rest of his life. Would they hate him for it? Even worse if they don’t hate him would they think he never actually trusted them?

Ace cared for these people. Skull always told the best jokes, managing to make everyone smile even in the direst of situations. Saber was one of the oldest members, he was much wiser than Ace himself. Ace often found himself seeking the older man for life advice. Banshee had a way of looking out for everyone, mothering all of them equally. Ace both loved and hated her for it. Barry and Kukai were both more reserved, the silent type. But Ace could always count on them when it really mattered. Finamore might make the best fish cakes, but Leonero was the best cook among them.

When he fell off as captain or got too excited Duce was always right there by his side, picking up his slack and giving out orders that he himself had forgotten. Hublot, Kimel, Cornelia, and everyone else. Even kotatsu, the large Lynx had taken a liking to the crew and now sailed the ocean with them. Ace loved all of them like family. Would give his life for anyone of them if it meant protecting them.

He loved their ship, the Piece of Spadile, The PoS. She was home, their home. Carrying them through thick and thin, protecting them from the weather and enemy attacks. He lets one hand run along her plank walls. Puring as much love into his touch as he can. Aboard her, surrounded by his crew, he shouldn’t have to fear his past or who he is. He should be able to live openly and freely.

That is why he had to tell them. Why, even if it hurt, the truth should be out there in the open for all of them to see. Ace never put any weight into his crew members' past. He cared about the people who were right now in front of him. Deep down he knew they wouldn’t care either. Not about his blood and not about who his father was.

*

“Ah, captain what's up? You look troubled.” He really can’t hide anything from these guys, they always look right through him. Ace gives Banshee a slap on the shoulder instead of answering her. Walking to the middle of the deck.

“Could I get everyone's attention please?” His crew gathers around him, even Finamore has paused his dinner preparations and has come out to listen. He feels nervous but it is now or never. Ace can’t allow himself to back down now.

“We have been sailing together for a while now, and I’m happy that all of you call me your captain… But as your captain, there is something you should know about me.” He pauses looking at each crew member, and all of them give curious looks.

“I want to consider you guys like my second family, I trust you to have my back in a fight and I hope you trust me to do the same.”

“of course captain.” The sentiment is unanimous, all of them give him bright smiles. Happy to hear how much faith their captain has in them

“For that reason, I want to be honest with you guys. No, I have to be honest. If I can’t trust you, my crew, with this. Then how can I expect to truly trust you ever.” Ace tries to swallow the lump in his throat. His words get shaky. The serious atmosphere seems to spread out as everyone pipes in.

“Captain…”

“We won’t care no matter what it is you that!”

“Yeah, you never cared about our past so why should we care about yours.”

Ace feels a little foolish for worrying so much about this.

“I wasn’t born with the name Portgas, I took my mother's maiden name as a child for protection. While today I don’t even acknowledge my born name it is still part of me part of my blood-” A deep breath then,

“-I was born Gol D. Ace.”

“Gol… But captain then?” Ace nods at Mihar’s words.

“My Father was Gol D. Roger. My mother, Portgas D. Rouge carried me for 20 months to avoid detection.” He lets that sink in but no one starts yelling at him, calling him a demon child or telling him he should have died with his mother. Relief, is all he can feel

“The infant hunt in the south blue. That's why you wanted to learn about it?” Ace heaves a sigh. Garp had never gone into detail about what happened in south blue, but he had told Ace that if not for his mother the World Government would have killed him.

He had always wondered, at one point he asked around the grey terminal but not a lot of people knew anything about it. He had gotten lucky some old guy who originally came from the south had told him that the government would round up pregnant and new mothers. When he set off it was one of the questions he set out to get definitive answers on. Answers he found not long after they entered the Grandline. The saying that ‘Not knowing is sometimes better than knowing.’ finally clicked.

*

It was only their third stop on the Grandline, through some of the locals Ace had learned that the Navy base operating out of the port had a large archive of old Marine files. Supposedly it held information on old missions and orders not just to bases on surrounding islands but to some of the blues as well. Infiltrating the base had proven to be an easy task and it wasn’t long before he and a few of the others were rifling through old files.

“Captain, what exactly are we looking for here?”

“That's the thing I’m not entirely sure, just anything regarding the South blue about 19 years ago. It would have something to do with newborn babies.”

“That's kind of vague but also oddly specific at the same time. You looking for your parents or something?”

“Not exactly, just keep looking you’ll know if you find it.”

They spend a few hours in those archives and Ace is just about to call it quits. They can’t stay holed up in there much longer or the Marines might notice. Duce waves them over.

“I think I might have found something but… Ace this gruesome stuff, god I can’t believe what it is I’m actually reading.”

“What is it.” Duce hands Ace the report, and his grey eyes skim the first page. Time-wise it seems to fit and it's an officer reporting from the south blue. then his eyes catch on a familiar name: Barterilla.

Ace feels his hands get clammy, this would definitely be it. He turns the first page reading the report from the start. The more he reads the more his hands shake. Tears fill his eyes and he can feel nausea turning in his stomach. Ace desperately grips the table in front of him trying to stay upright, yet he still can’t tear his eyes away from the page in front of him.

Suddenly it feels like the air isn’t getting into his lungs. He tries to breathe but it is like nothing happens. His vision is getting staticky and panic is setting in. His legs buckle under him sending him crashing to the floor, heaving for air. He can’t think he can’t speak. His limbs won't move and most of all he can’t breathe.

It is like his throat is filled with cotton, and Ace chokes on his own spit. Half sobbing on the floor it feels like the world around him has turned to static. They did this because of him. To try and find him. People- Innocent people slaughtered for no good reason. Newborns was stolen away and pregnant women was brutalized in their own home. Those who tried and stop it got a bullet to the head. Husbands and fathers who tried to protect their families. Friends who hid the woman away were executed on the street for potentially harboring Roger’s spawn.

Suddenly there is pressure around one of his wrists. He feels heat under his fingers and thumping. Rhythmic thumping, there is noise above him like a voice. “-eath Ace, You need to breathe.”

Ace heaves for air as the voice demands and for the first time in a while, some of it actually makes it to his lungs.

“That's it, keep going. Just focus on my heartbeat and follow my own breaths.” Is that Duce? it might be but Ace isn’t sure.

“Stay with me captain, and again deep breaths like this-” The person talking exaggerates his own breathing and Ace tries to follow it the best he can. Slowly but surely the panic start to ebb away. It leaves him exhausted and with a dullness in his chest.

“Mihar I don’t think we'll get him moving on his own anytime soon.”

“Just tell me what you need.”

“You clear the way, me and skull will support Ace. We need to leave now-” Ace stops listening and just lets himself get carried along. Every now and then Duce reminds him to take deep breaths. Through it all Ace keeps the files clutched tightly in one hand. Not willing to let it go. By the time they make it back, Ace is able to walk on his own, albeit on shaky legs.

“Ace, what happened back there?”

“Did you know Duce, I was born in the south-”

“My mother protected me with her life, after I was born my grandfather brought me to the east blue. He tried to keep me safe, he never told me what had really happened.”

“Ace.” The grief in Duce’s voice tells Ace enough, his first mate understands. He had been there, his mother had lived that nightmare and allowed her son to come out alive on the other side. One of the few lucky ones.

*

The memory hits him hard and Ace clenches his teeth, new tears already forming for the lives lost back then. “I wasn’t just a victim of the Infant hunt, I was the reason it happened in the first place.”

“Ironic isn’t it, all that bloodshed and with nothing to show for it, I’m still alive and kicking.”

“What happened back then wasn’t your fault captain.”

“Yeah, it was the World Government who went around killing people over something as stupid as a blood relation.”

Ace gives them a timid smile, his crew really was the best. The ferocity with which they defend him and try to make him feel better. Their words make him happy despite not fully believing the words himself. They keep showering him in love and the black-haired teen even gives in to the hugs and pats of affection all of them spring on him.

There is a genuine smile on Ace’s face when he goes to bed that night, and it remains there for many days.

Chapter Text

The Piece of Spadille makes land and her crew is spread out on deck. all of them dazed and bruised from the bumpy ride they just endured. Traveling up that waterfall had been rough, the only one not completely out of it was Ace. The fire logia were brimming with excited energy, doing small stretches on deck. On the ground beside him, Duce groans.

“Ace please.”

“What?” There is a cheeky smile on his lips and a glint in his eyes.

“Don’t you fucking dare-”

But Ace has already jumped off the boat, landing in the soft sand. Ending up on one of Wano’s beaches was not planned at all. But now that they were here, why not make the most of it? Ace was ready to explore and itching for a good fight. Last he heard one of the four emperors, Kaido, had taken up residence here. Taking his head seemed like something worthwhile.

The spades spend a week exploring the country but making sure that they are staying in the shadows. They wouldn’t want to catch too much attention. They end up meeting a young girl named Otama. The kid couldn’t be more than 5 but she reminds Ace of himself when he was a kid. She might not be as strong as he had been at that age but the girl has determination. Still, he couldn’t let her come with them even if he wanted to. Ace’s end goals were far too dangerous to bring a young child along for. Especially when she could stay safe here on her home island.

“Please big brother Ace, I want to come with you guys, I promise I can take care of myself.”

“Say what, if you grow up to become a strong ninja warrior we’ll come back and get you when your 17, that's the same age I set off.”

“Captain are you sure about this…”

“Really you’ll come back for me.”

“Otama one thing you should know is I don’t lie, but you have to become stronger until then okay.”

“It's a promise, I swear I’ll become the greatest ninja Warrior ever, so you have to take me with you when I turn 17.” Ace takes what he said earlier back, Otama doesn't remind him of himself, she reminds him of Luffy. The way she looks at him with that big smile on her face he can almost see his little brother standing in her stead.

“Yeah, It is a promise.” Behind him, Duce just shakes his head fondly at their captain. Used to his antics at this point. They stay with her for a while, and she tells them all about her country and how Kaido has wrecked it. They hear even more stories from her guardian. All of the Spades feel enraged by what they hear. The fact that a young girl like Otama, with so much love and energy, has to slave away day in and day out, and still barely has enough to feed herself once a day.

Tenguyama, the man looking after Tama told them about some of the kidnappings. Ace doesn't even have to look at his crew and knows they are all thinking the same thing. And so it seems his plans of fighting Kaido are being moved up on the to-do list.

*

Things don't exactly go according to plan. While they do manage to rescue the kidnapped men and women. Ace doesn’t find Kaido, apparently, the man isn’t even in Wano right now. Instead Ace meets Yamato, Kaido’s son. At first, Ace is about as ready to pound the sorry piece of shit into the ground as he was his father, but that plan also gets derailed. If Otama is like Luffy then Yamato is definitely a lot like himself. The guy doesn’t like his own dad, he lets them free all the captives before attacking. What's more, the guy is literally chained to the small skull-shaped island.

One thing leads to another and their death match ends as good-natured sparring. Instead of killing each other, the two end up exchanging stories and their hate for their old men over sake.

“Ahh Ace your so cool. You are totally like Oden.”

“Like who?”

“Kozuki Oden, someone who lived freely out on the ocean.”

“Hmm, and you wanna be like him?”

“Like him! I want to be him. No, I will be him. I will become Oden, for then I will finally be free. Then I can free this country from my father's hold, the way the real Oden would have wanted to.”

Ace can’t help but laugh “Are you mocking my dream, Ace?”

“No- I’m sorry- I’m not mocking your dream at all, it just reminded me of something my little brother used to say.” Ace can still see Luffy and himself standing on that cliffside just days after what had happened with Sabo. Luffy’s words ring as clear in his head to this day, and Ace doesn’t doubt that Luffy could do it. To become the King of pirates.

Ace isn’t sure what compels him to do it, but he tells Yamato about it. About his kid brother and the seemingly impossible dream he has. Ace half expects Yamato to laugh at it, as most people tend to do, even Sabo and himself had laughed at Luffy's dream the first time they heard him scream it out. But then the kid had been 7 and bound to a tree when he proclaimed it. Instead, Yamato just looks even more excited if that was at all possible. He pulls out some old beat-up book.

“It is the same, The same dream as the guy in Odens Journal.”

“what are you on about now.”

“Oden sailed with a lot of amazing people. One of the was Gol D. Roger. The king of pirates, and he said the exact same thing your brother did.”

Ah, that kind of pisses him off, “That man said the same thing as Luffy huh?” It might be because of the alcohol in his blood.

“Ace?”

“Yamato,” But it feels like his mouth is working without consent “You and I aren't so different you know.” What is he saying, why does he feels so at ease with the other man? “To know that my shitty old man said the same thing as my adorable little brother kind of pisses me off.” His words are half slurred

“Eh? Eeeeeh?” Yamato first freezes then lean impossibly close to Ace, forcing the other to slightly lean back.

“Ace, hey Ace what's that supposed to mean? Your old man. WAIT is your father Roger?!” He had gone and done it now, hadn’t he? Ace reacts like how he usually does, his walls go up and he yells back with anger.

“What of it, huh? Roger was a monster and I don’t intend on following in his footsteps.”

Yamato seems to hesitate, but Ace doesn’t really care right now, too worked up from the booze and his own stupidity.

“I’m sure you aren’t a monster, Ace.”

“It's as you said you and I Aren’t too different. I’m held back by my relation to Kaido and you yours to Roger.”

Their circumstances might have been different but the root of their hate and misery is the same. Sitting in the shadow of a father who the world has deemed an irredeemable monster. Ace has never met someone who understood that pain before. Someone who could relate to how he feels so completely.

The two of them talk until sunrise. Despite having only known the other man for a short while Ace feels connected to Yamato. It is not exactly like the bond he shares with Luffy, but also not too different either. A different kind of brotherhood from the one he swore over cups of sake so many years ago.

*

The sun is high in the sky and Ace is set to return to his crew, all of them need to head out to sea once more. Yamato is standing with him at the edge of Onigashira.

“Before you go take this.” And Yamato thrust a piece of blank paper into Ace’s hands.

“Huh? Why would I need a blank piece of paper.”

“it's not just paper. Last night I took the liberty of snatching some of your hair-” “Wha- My hair.” “- and turned it into a Virve card, I figured you probably didn’t have one yet.”

“The hell is a Virve card?” Yamato points to the blank paper, before ripping off a small corner. Allowing the piece to rest in his palm. The small piece seems to move towards the larger piece and Ace cant help the surprise on his face.

“Yamato that's kind of freaky.”

“It is not freaky, the paper is attracted to you, and will always try and move towards you, this way I can always find you again when I finally get to set out.”

“Oh? that's kind of neat.”

“Right? What's more the paper can tell you if a person is hurt, if it starts burning that tells you the person has been injured.”

“Well, I’ll be damed. To think something like that exist.” Ace takes the large sheet and tucks it away safely in his hat. He steps out on Striker, giving Yamato a large smile.

“Till we meet again Yamato.”

Yamato waves back at Ace as he sets off. “Till we meet again Ace!”

Chapter Text

Marco’s words kept replaying in his head. There wasn't no greater reason for their loyalty. No great scheme or larger plan from Whitebeards’s side. No twisted sense of duty or life debts to be repaid.

“Because he calls us sons’.”

A place to belong. A family to love and be loved by. That is all it is. It is so simple…

But then why does it still feel so complicated? Family has always been a touchy subject for him. Between who his parents are and the weird relationship he has with Garp. Not to mention- sub-consciously a hand grips his tattooed arm. Clutching the crossed-out S like a lifeline. Sabo, and everything he represented.

To Ace Sabo was proof that your parents didn’t determine who you were, that despite the circumstances you are born into, you could carve your own path. Become someone not determined by the blood in your veins. To be free of any shackles you might have been born in. But then that got ripped away from Sabo and he was right back where he started, shackled to his blood. Sitting in that gilded cage inside High town, created by his father. Luffy and himself, the life Sabo had made, were used as bargaining chips. Their life for his.

Then when Sabo tried to escape to the ocean, her waves un judging of one's character, it had cost him his life. Lost in a fiery explosion, with not even a body for them to give a burial or grieve upon.

In a way, it was the kind of thing Ace had always wished to have growing up. A place to belong, a place to be loved. A home to call his own. Luffy and Sabo would always be his first home, but they weren't a place and one of them weren't even alive. It was the kind of thing Luffy always talked about, to think the bright-eyed kid who constantly yelled about being pirate king could see a deeper meaning with things.

*

“Ace.”

“Hmm.”

“When I set out I’m going to be King of pirates.”

“You already told me that.”

“I will need a crew, my friends, to do it. No matter how much I want to I could never do it alone. Even Shanks has friends, and his friends are the best. Mine has to be the best to- No they have to be better than the best. They’ll be like my family, like how you and I are brothers Ace.”

“You really think you can find a family out there Luffy?”

“Well, I found you and Sabo didn’t I?”

“I guess.”

“What about you Ace?”

“What about me?”

“Are you going to find a family out there?”

*

To find a family. A home. That's what Luffy had said…

The Spadeille had started to become that for him. Duce, Mihar, Saber, even Kotatsu the overgrown house cat. He had started to feel that maybe just maybe it would be alright to open up to them, to let them in and call them family. To trust them completely.

Then there had been Yamato. Over eager and so easy to talk to. Yamato understood Ace in a way no one else did or could. Maybe it was because they shared a hate for their fathers, and that had united them. However, where Ace’s shackles had been none physical, put on in his own mind. Yamatos had been more physical, literally, Kaido had chained him to Onigashira. Making him unable to reach the freedom of the ocean.

And now here Whitebeard goes, offering up that trust to Ace and his crew like it is nothing. He wants to accept, but to do that he has to offer the same to Whitebeard in return. It's a gamble, and a big one. Whitebeard would have known his father before he passed. Was probably one of his old rivals.

Ace doesn't think Whitebeard is the kind of guy who would turn him into the marines. If anything the captain would probably just kill him. He thinks of what Marco has said, of Luffy’s words about family. It’s a gamble- But, it is one he has to take. To truly feel that he belong, his past had to be bared.

*

Ace stands in front of the large cabin door, one hand raised to knock. A loud ‘come in’ booms through the door before Ace even touches the wood. He hesitates for a moment, before steeling his resolve. Putting his hand on the handle and stepping into the room. In front of him, Whitebeard sits at a large desk head not even turned in his direction. Several pieces of medical equipment are attached to his arms and torso.

“Come to try and take my head again?” Whitebeard doesn’t look up from the papers on his desk as he addresses Ace. The older man simply keeps working.

“No, not this time. I came to talk.” Finally, Whitebeard turns to look at him, a knowing glint in his eyes. His papers get abandoned and the large man fully turns to Ace.

“Well then talk.” There is a large grin on Whitebeard's face. Ace grits his teeth willing himself to stay calm despite the nervousness wracking his body.

“Did you really mean it- the invitation I mean. Could we- Could I join your crew?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t keep asking if I didn’t mean it son.”

“Then I have to tell you something first. But you have to promise that no matter what you won't hurt my friends.”

Whitebeards seems calculating at those words, like he's trying to see through Ace but not quite managing to do so.

“Ace, I swear on my own life and the life of my family that no matter what no harm shall befall your friends.” The words are reassuring and Ace doesn’t doubt that the other captain would keep his word. Ace has been on the Moby long enough to know that Whitebeard wouldn’t go back on a promise like that. Still Ace finds it hard to form the right words. The silence seems to stretch on.

“So?” He doesn’t sound impatient more just curious.

“My real father was Gol D. Roger.”

“So?” This time it is said with a large smile, there is indifference in his voice. His tone is matter of factly like the statement doesn't matter. Like it doesn’t change anything.

“So- WHat do you mean SO?!” Anger has always come easy to Ace. “Do you not care that my father was your old rival, that I have the blood of the devil coursing through me?!”

“Son we are all Children of the sea, and the sea doens’t judge so neither will I. Who your birth parents are do not matter. No one here would care. That being said I can understand why you are weary.”

“You really don’t care?” At that, the old captain laughs.

“Of course not, and if you do decide to stay it won't matter anyway as you will be my son instead. Blood or no blood.” Whitebeard gestures with his hand, “-That being said your mother, was Portgas D. Rouge right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that certainly makes sense.” Ace feels confused by that, had Whitebeard known his mother? But he doesn't get long to ponder it over or ask more questions as the man breaks his train of thought.

“What will it be then my boy, will you join and become my son or will you leave with your crew?”

“I need some time to figure things out, I- Thank you Pops.” Ace doesn't even realize the word he had used, subconsciously he already knew what his answer would be. Whitebeard seems to catch it how ever.

“Gurararrar- Your very welcome Son.”

*

A couple of days after his talk with Pops in his room- still a bit weird to say it- Ace searched out Izo. Some of the other whitebeards had told him he was the go-to if you wanted a tattoo while they were still out at sea.

At first, the crossdresser had been surprised by his request but quickly complied. It only took a few hours for him to have made a few preliminary sketches. Ace wanted it big and somewhere visible. At first, he had said on his chest like Marco. However Izo had encouraged him to do his back instead, the front often got banged up in the battle, and the only reason Marco didn’t have that problem was thanks to his devil fruit.

The tattoo itself took almost 7 hours to complete and what's worse is that Ace had to wear a sea stone cuff to avoid the tattoo needle just fazing through him. the pain itself had not been too bad but the locking away of his powers had. However, when he was finally done he was proud to show off Pops' mark on his back.

Chapter Text

They are finally docking at an island after almost a month of constant sailing. Ace feel like they have been at sea a bit longer than usual, but it is all good. He loves the Moby but there is nothing like getting your feet back on stable ground. He's about to head for the kitchen to fetch Thatch when Marco intercepts him. The first mate grabs his arms and start dragging him in the other direction.

“Marco hey! What's the big deal here?” Marco just gives him a smug grin over his shoulder as he continues to drag Ace off the ship and into town.

“You are coming with me, we have somewhere important to be.”

*

He still felt this was ridiculous, if Marco wanted to visit some old friend of his he should do it alone, or at least not drag him along. He had plans for this island- Big plans. Alright so maybe he had mostly been wanting to go from restaurant to restaurant with Thatch, but still it had been a plan.

Nothing seems special about the house they reached either. Ace wouldn’t call the red and white bricked building plain, more average. not too big, not too small. not too colorful but also not plain. It had small flower beds in front, daisies and some yellow flowers Ace didn’t know the name of blooming bright and colorful. The house probably had a small backyard too. Looked to be the kind of house anyway. it was nestled between other houses of a similar build at the edge of town.

The only note-worthy thing was the green door, which Marco was knocking. The sound of a woman's voice calling through the door can be heard. An older woman opens the door, her heir is greying and she's wearing a simple muted dress, and an apron with flour sticking to it. All in all, she looks like an old housewife. She instantly focuses on Marco, but somehow Ace doesn't doubt she has seen him. Suddenly she doesn’t just feel like any old housewife. Ace has to stop himself from taking a step back.

Her smile disappears and instead, her face goes neutral.

“Whatever it is the old man wants he can beat it, we retired a long time ago.” She's already closing the door, but Marco is already reaching out to stop her. Like he already knew this would happen.

“This has nothing to do with Pops, it's about my friend here.” Ace could pinpoint the exact moment when things changes. The woman makes eye contact with him and he sees recognition. Though Ace could swear up and down he had never seen her before. the door is left open as the woman just looks at him. He feels uncomfortable under her eyes like they see through his soul.

“Mama who was at the door?” Another woman considerably younger and with a toddler on her hip comes into view. Despite the difference in years, Ace can immediately see a resemblance to the older. Her daughter maybe. It seems to shake the woman out of her trance and she looks at the two behind her before glancing back at him, then at Marco. Hesitating for only a moment.

“Old friends of mine. Please come in, both of you.”

*

The old woman sits them down in her living room. Ace sees Marco make himself comfortable on the couch. Ace tries to do the same but can’t help feeling a little tense. Why couldn’t Marco have explained what this was all about? Clearly, this woman seems to know who he is.

“It is good to finally meet you Ace. I’m glad to see that you are well.” The woman sits down in a chair opposite them and Ace can only gape.

“Should I know you?”

“You didn’t even tell him who I was?” At this, she turns to glare at Marco who looks a bit apologetic. Rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile on his face.

“Knowing Ace, I wasn’t sure if I could get him to come if I did.” Ace makes a sound of offense at that. He would have come with if he knew what was going on… Probably.

“Who exactly are you?” Instead of arguing with Marco, Ace turns his attention back to the woman. Seemed she was more willing than Marco to clear up some of this confusion.

“I’m Marylin Read, though the world once feared me as Mary The Heads Maiden. First mate aboard The Casino and right hand of Black Jack Rouge herself. The captain of the Black Jack-Pirates.” This woman had been part of moms crew? She had fought alongside her. Watched her back. Talked with her, laughed with her, and maybe even cried with her.

“You were mom's first mate?”

“I was more than that, Rouge, myself, and Coat Tails O’Malley we were an unstoppable fighting force. Your mom was the heart and soul of our crew. O’Malley and I was the eyes and ears, her left and right hand respectfully.”

“Why do I hear you say my old name I thought we agreed- Oh.” A second woman comes out from the kitchen. She's in a knitted sweater and some long pants, and an old scar runs across her face. There is a kind smile on her face and her eyes seem to soften when they land on him.

“Ah, Grace my love, come sit we have a special guest over.” Marylin pats the armrest of the chair, and grace sits on it. Her gaze never wavered from Ace.

“I can see that.”

“Coat Tails O’Malley.” Ace lets out a breath, another member of mom’s old crew. The woman laughs at his starstruck gaze.

“Oh please, I don’t use that name anymore. Call me Grace. And besides, it would have to change to Coat Tails Read now anyway.” Grace takes Mary’s hand and Ace can’t help but linger on the interaction. A simple silver band rest on each of their ring finger and Ace could guess, the two were married. The young woman and child from before come back into the living room, and she gives both women a kiss on the head.

“Mama, mom. Me and Ray will be heading home again.” The toddler babbles and reaches out for its grandparents who each give the small child a kiss on the cheek.

“Alright, it was good to have you over sweetheart, tell your husband hi from us.” She waves on her way out the door an ‘I will’ falls from her lips. Marco turns with a raised eyebrow to Gace and Mary.

“I didn’t know you two had become grandparents.”

“Well Ray was a surprise to all of us, but we love our little grandbaby to bits.” Marco nods.

Ace isn’t sure what to say or do. He only recently learned that his mother had been a pirate captain thanks to Shanks. Now he was face to face with some of her old crew mates. Do they know that mom has passed away? did they know she had been pregnant?

“You look so nervous Ace.” Grace's voice is comforting, her whole presence is actually. Even Mary lost that air of danger as soon as she had seen Ace back when they first arrived.

“Ah, I’m sorry I just-” But the woman cuts him off.

“Don’t apologize, I can understand you might be a bit surprised. Say how much do you actually know about your mother.” Ace looks down at his hands. More than anything he now regrets never pushing gramps for more information.

“Not a lot, and I only really learned about her being a pirate recently. Red-haired Shanks got me an old wanted poster of her.”

That gets him a laugh from both women “Ha- figures it would be Roger’s red-haired brat, Garp always was a useless man.”

“You knew she gave me to Garp?”

Mary shakes her head as Grace answers for them. “Not really, she never told us if that is what your asking- But, she sure as hell didn’t give you to Newgate and Roger wouldn’t have allowed any of his old crew mates to take you either should you survive. And clearly, none of us had you. So Garp was the only one left.”

“Oh.” To think that the two could figure something out with so little information.

“That being said, up until 2 years ago when your first bounty was sent out we thought you and Rouge had both died on Barterilla. I guess she was stubborn to the bitter end huh.” At the mention of Barterilla Ace begin to shake.

“Don’t blame yourself for that kid.”

“How can I not! I was the reason they started the hunt in the first place!” The pain was still fresh in his heart. Sometimes he wished he never learned what the government had done to try and get to him.

“The government killed those people.” Mary’s voice is firm and should leave no room for argument, but Ace can’t accept it.

“I killed Rouge if it weren't for-” The sound of skin hitting skin reverberates loudly in the small living room. Ace hadn’t even noticed Mary moving let alone her hitting him. but the stinging in his cheek is definite proof. Mary looks downright pissed and Grace stands up behind her.

“Mary-” Grace tries to get her wife to calm down but Mary won't have it. She continues one hand fisted in Ace’s shirt.

“No, how dare you. I don’t care that you are captains- No it is because you are Rouges. Don’t you ever even dare to think that again. Our captain wasn’t some weak-willed woman, Rouge wasn’t some pushover who would just lay down and die. Not for anyone. Rouge choose to have you-” Marylin grips the front of Ace’s shirt pulling him in close, “-She chose to give over her own life for yours and I know dam well that she would choose to do so every time. Roger too, yes he was sick and yes he made a deal so they wouldn’t hunt down the rest of his crew. But he also knew that the sooner he went out the less likely they were to find you.”

Her gaze is full of rage, and yet. Despite that she is yelling at him Ace feels none of that rage is actually targeted at him. The woman looks on the verge of tears as she continues to yell at him. Ace can’t speak or break lose from the hold she has on him.

“Ace, your parents did everything they could to keep you safe, to make sure that you got a chance to enjoy life and see the sunrise. They would never want you to blame yourself for their deaths. Most of all doing so is like laying shame on Rouge's sacrifice, on everything she stood for when she was still alive.”

Finally grace steps up pulling on Mary’s arms, her tone firm. “Mary put the boy down.” She does so, letting Ace slump back into the couch. While this is happening Marco is sitting in silence watching the exchange. The first mate wants to intervene himself but knows he shouldn’t. Neither women would ever actually hurt Ace, and in a way, the young man needs to hear what is being said.

“Rouge loved you more than anything, I still remember the look of determination on her face when she first told the crew she was expecting.” The tears have begun to run down Mary’s cheeks, and the old lady sniffles as Grace guides her back a few steps, giving him some much-needed air. For a while the living room falls silent.

Ace sits stunned, one hand going back to where Mary had first hit him across the face. He had never thought about it like that. His mind is racing, desperately trying to make sense of what Mary is saying. It's like that hit did more than get his attention. Slowly the tears start flowing from his eyes. Sobs tear through his throat. He couldn’t disrespect his mom, couldn’t look down on her or her legacy, but it still meant accepting himself. Accepting that he didn’t do anything wrong.

“Oi, Ace -yoi.” Marco's hands find a place on Ace’s back as the boy sobs. His arms hugged around his own torso, desperately wanting to disappear.

“You’re birth wasn’t a mistake Ace, your being here, alive, isn’t wrong. Rouge would have raised hell if she knew her baby boy thought so little of himself.” Ace can’t speak and just sobs harder as Grace speaks to him. The two women pull him into an embrace that he accepts without hesitance. For a long time the three of them sit like that. Ace breaking down in the arms of the people who had been closest to his mother. Finally coming to terms with her death. Neither woman is unaffected and both shed tears for their friend and captain.

It is only after he has calmed down completely, and with a warm cup of tea in his hands that he remembers the other thing Mary had said registers with him. “You mentioned something about- about my father. Roger was sick?” Marco remembers the rumors but didn’t actually think any of them had been true. Not even Pops had known what to believe back then, and Roger never told him anything about it.

“Yes. You probably don’t think very highly of him, but Roger truly loved you and your mother. The two had gotten married in secret-”

“Mom was married to the guy?!” His outburst seems to lighten the rather dull mood, as Grace laughs at his question. Marylin hid her own chuckles behind a hand.

“Of course, what? You thought Rouge had just been some fling of Rogers?” Even Marco is laughing at him and Ace can’t help the embarrassed blush creeping up his cheeks.

“Ace -yoi even I could have told you as much. Roger followed Rouge around like a lost puppy. The man had been absolutely smitten with Rouge -yoi.” Ace couldn’t really see it but he could ask more about it later, right now something else seemed more important.

“Can we get back on track here?”

“Roger didn’t have much time left. Even if he hadn’t turned himself even he would at most only have a year left to live. Someone like Rayleigh could probably tell you more about his side of the story than us, but in essence: Roger gave himself up, not just to give his own crew a chance to escape but to try and create an opening for Rouge to hide with you.” That changed a lot of things.

“The man wanted nothing more than for the two of you to live. To be happy.” Roger hadn’t just left Rouge to fend for herself. The man had known he would die, but instead of just lying down and dying in a hospital bed. He had used his own death to try and protect her, to protect Ace.

“The world has told a lot of lies about the man Roger was.”

“Gramps always said that the world only knew Gold Roger, not Gol D. Roger. But I never thought he had meant it like that.”

“The World Government changed many things about his history, one of them was erasing the D initial from his name. Roger had been kind, he believed in living freely above all else.”

“When talking about Roger, neither of us knows the details but Ace you should see Crocus, the lighthouse keeper at the entrance to the Grandline. Have him give you a check-up.”

“The old man already gave me one, though he wouldn’t tell me why he was so insistent on it though- Wait.”

“Well, that is one less thing to worry about then. Crocus had been Roger’s ship's doctor those last few years. He would know if you had inherited the disease your old man got.” That actually makes sense then. When he and the Spades first made it over Reverse Mountain, the old man had basically forced Ace to sit down for an examination. He had gotten a clean bill of health but it had still been weird.

The rest of the day Ace spend asking Marylin and Grace all kinds of questions. Mostly once about his mom but a few about his dad too. For the first time, Ace doesn’t feel completely disgusted by referring to Roger as his father. In turn, they ask him about his upbringing and childhood. They ask about his travels and adventures on the sea so far. For the first time since he was 5 years old, Ace feels happy when thinking about his parents. He feels happy about the blood running in his veins.

*

Marco glances at Ace, the other had been quiet since they left the Read’s home. There was a faint smile on his face, and his shoulders were relaxed. It had been the right choice after all to bring him here. It had taken quite a bit of finagling and talking back and forth with Pops, but their father had agreed that it would be good for Ace to meet people who knew the real version of his parents. He also thinks that he might just have gotten a newfound respect from the former Black Jacks. This trip while mainly for the sake of Ace had surely brought some closure to both Grace and Marylin. He didn’t doubt that they would be contacting any of the former crew mates they still could about the boy.

Still Ace seemed lighter. Marco knew that all of his self-doubt and self-loathing, the hate he harbored for the world that discarded him based on his heritage. All of it wouldn’t disappear overnight. One conversation wouldn’t be enough to make years of hate go away. With this maybe Ace could finally start to heal properly. Maybe he could start to love himself the way all of them did. Ace had already accepted himself in a way he never had before. Marco could see it in his eyes, for the first time, probably since Garp had told him about his parents, Ace didn’t blame himself for his mother's death. Nor did he blame himself for what happened at Barterilla or any of the other islands in the south blue.

The black-haired man definitely still has doubts about himself. Who he was and his place in the world. But it wasn’t anything they couldn’t figure out together. After all, that is what family is for.

Chapter Text

Deuce would like to know what kind of death wish his captain had. Sure Ace could be reckless and an idiot. More often than not he was a reckless idiot doing something stupid. But this, this took the fucking cake. Deuce would like to petition for a new captain thank you very much. Preferably one with an ounce of self-preservation, something Ace obviously did not possess.

No Deuce was Ace’s self-preservation. That little voice of caution telling you not to do anything was his job. Ace didn’t have one of those voices, if he did it had yet to show itself. Even then Deuce would like to never be in a situation where Ace is cautious, at that point the world might as well be ending. Some cataclysmic event would wipe out everyone and everything. Yeah, he was definitely going to pass on that. Mutiny might be a good choice at this point. He looks behind him, from how skittish some of the others were they probably weren't far behind in that thought process. Sabar especially looked ready to strangle Ace.

Deuce couldn’t blame the man, and he probably wouldn’t stop him if he tried. Probably… Point was, Ace had gone above and beyond in stupidity this time. As his first mate, Deuce knew it was coming at some point, really one of the first things Ace had said when they meet was how he wanted to fight one of the yonkos’. But this wasn’t that yonko, and Deuce had expected that they do that years from now. They had barely entered the New World. What's more, his captain had the audacity to be smiling all smugly about it. Like he wasn't about to challenge Red-haired Shanks to a fight.

At first, Deuce hadn’t really thought anything about how adamant Ace had been they headed to this particular island. Sure it was part of a Yonko’s territory, the fish men on fishman island had told them as much, but most islands in the New World were affiliated with someone, be it the Navy, Warlords, or a Yonko. Deuce drew the line when they spotted the Red Force docked on one side of the island, but at that point, it had been too late to change course. They would need to wait for the log pose to set. What was worse the island had a rough winter climate. At this point, Deuce just hoped they could keep a low profile until that happened and then make off without attracting too much attention from the Yonko.

“Come on we need to find Shanks.”

“Sure let me just get my coat- As if, Ace have you completely lost your mind?!”

“What.”

“Don’t fucking what me, we are not tracking this icy tundra so you can go and be an idiot.”

*

They do in fact end up trekking through the tundra, and then they trek up a fucking mountain, just so Ace can be an idiot. Deuce feel like he had a good life, he accomplished things… he guessed. He didn’t exactly mind dying, knew it came with the territory of being a pirate. Would he have liked to have lived a few more years. Yes, yes he would. But beggars can’t be choosers, and it seemed they had finally located the Red-haired yonko- at least if the sound of an ongoing party was anything to go by.

Before they even enter the cave, Deuce can tell that the party quiets down considerably. Ace just waltz in like he owns the place, if Deuce had a knife he could cut the air in two with how thick the tension is between both crews.

At the back of the cave Shanks sits, a bottle of sake in his one remaining hand. On the surface, the man looks completely laid back, and so do the people immediately around him. Deuce recognizes his first mate Benn Beckman from his bounty poster. Still, the first mate had no doubt that if he really wanted to, he could take all of them out with no problem. After all, Red-hair is known for clearing out the whole battlefield without lifting a finger.

“What's this? A rookie come for a fight, and I was just starting to enjoy myself too.”

“Actually I’m not here for a fight.” And then Ace does the last thing Deuce would expect. He bows.

“Red-Haired Shanks Thank you for saving my little brother's life when he was a kid. Luffy is a bit of a dumbass and always gets himself into trouble.” Deuce is rapidly looking between the two, not really processing what is happening. Then emperor begins to laugh.

“Oi did you hear that? The kids thanking me.” Then he walks over to Ace who stands back up. Shanks puts his hand on Ace’s shoulder still holding the bottle of sake.

“Now no need for that, tell me how is Anchor? Hey Yasopp can you believe it little anchor had a big brother!”

“Well they sure look a-like.”

“Benn did you know? you had to have known right, aah why didn’t sweet little Anchor ever tell me this.”

“Sorry captain but I knew as much as you did.”

“Maybe the kid didn’t actually like you.”

“Don’t say that, you’ll make this grown man cry Yasopp.”

“Well we weren’t brothers yet when you meet him, in fact, I only meet Luffy after you guys left, in a way it was your visit that had our grandfather move him to the mountains with me.”

“You're a good guy, come sit, have a drink. What's your name kid?”

“Ace. Captain of the Spade pirates.”

“This your crew them, come all of you. Drinks on me tonight.”

Was this really happening? Was one of the four emperors of the sea, Red-haired Shanks, really dragging off his captain for a friendly chat? and not one of those ‘friendly’ chats underlined with threats. He was offering up booze to them as well. Did they get a transporter to an alternate universe where Ace wasn’t a suicidal maniac throwing fists with everyone and everything.

Why did this somehow feel more insane than his captain throwing hands with an emperor of the sea. Better yet why was Ace so calm about this, the fire logia were mingling. Fucking mingling, with the red-haired pirates. talking to them like their old pals of his. Deuce needs to sit down maybe get drunk and forget about all of this.

Chapter Text

It is on a calm day, with nothing particularly interesting happening. Ace and Marco are keeping Thatch company while he and a few other members of the fourth are trying out some new recipes. Ace is stacking cards, from where he got them no one is sure, when the black lines on his arm catch Thatch’s attention.

“Say ace I’ve been wondering this for a while now but what iss up with the tattoo on your arm?” Marco and Ace both look to Thatch, then Ace’s arm. Marco gives the tattooed letters a poke.

“Actually I’m a bit cruise about that too -yoi.”

“My tattoo?”

“Yeah, did the artist misspell your name?” Thatch has put down the glass he was cleaning and is now leaning on the counter, both arms resting on the wood.

“No I asked him to do it like this.” A memory sits just under the surface as Ace puts a hand to the crossed-out S.

*
There is a crash, then yelling, then another crash. Someone screams bloody murder and a bucket flies through the glass window. The sound of shattering glass sends birds flying from the treetops. Three sets of small feet run through the door to the house, a large woman with curly orange hair, though when the sun hits just right a blue sheen is reflected back, follows them. She can best be described as a raging bull. The blonde and two black-haired boys all scramble around on the ground. The two black-haired boys try to hide behind the blonde kid. Who gives the woman a sheepish smile.

“Do you think she is still mad about the glitter glue?” The older of the black-haired boys whispers to the blond. The chunks of blue glitter are a very stark contrast to Dadan's orange hair.

“Yep…” The blonde answers back, fear in his voice.

“I SAID OUT.” The three rush out into the jungle, happy to escape the woman's wrath for now.

*
“I’ve told you guys about Luffy before.” Ace plays with the stack of cards.

“You’re little brother.” Ace nods.

“I used to have another brother. The guy was like my other half, while I was reckless and impatient he always managed to keep a cool head. We stuck through everything together and I can’t count the times he saved my life. He was my twin, my partner in crime, Luffy's other older brother.” There is a soft smile on his face as he talks about Sabo. Despite how painful his death still feels, it doesn't take away from all the good memories they made.

“what was his name, your twin?”

“Sabo, his name was Sabo.”

*

“Oi Ace are you even paying attention.” Sabo hits him over the head with the book that had been in front of him moments ago. If he had actually been reading the thing Ace would have noticed when the blonde snatched it up. But Ace hadn’t instead he had been looking out into the jungle, staring at nothing in particular.

“That hurt you asshole.” Ace growls back, both hands going to the sore spot on his head.

“Yeah well maybe if you had actually been paying attention and trying to read the dam thing I wouldn’t have to hit you!” Sabo glared at him, but he glared back just as harsly, unwilling to back down but ending up having to. The black-haired boy ‘tsk’ at the other.

“I still don’t get why I have to learn how to read. You can read just fine, is not like I need it or anything.” Ace had crossed his arms and was looking away from Sabo.

“That is exactly my point, one day we’ll set out and then we might not be on the same boat, what will you do then?” Ace didn’t like that Sabo had a point, he would need to at least know the basics of reading and writing.

“Well, what about Luffy? Why doesn’t he have to learn as well?!” The two both turn their gaze to the aforementioned brother. The 8-year-old boy was in the process of putting the whole book into his mouth. Something that was going surprisingly well for the boy thanks to his rubber body. Noticing the other two staring Luffy smiled around his book saying something unintelligible. Both Ace and Sabo made a face at his actions.

“Alright I see your point, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Ace took the book from Sabo's hands and began reading it again. Sabo just smiled in victory.

*

Thatch looks intrigued. “Did you look a-like?” Ace thinks about it for a moment. He isn’t sure how much they would still look the same if Sabo was alive today, but they had been pretty similar as kids.

“Well I guess both yes and no. Sabo had grey eyes like me, but he had short blonde hair whereas mine has always been this kind of long black hair. Makino always said she thought we looked similar though.”

“Hmm, I’m imagining a blonde Ace.”

“Well, we probably did not look exactly the same. Makino was also the one to introduce the concept of twins to us.”

“Has no one told you what twins are?” Ace shrugs at Marco’s words.

“Not really, we lived in the mountains remember? if it weren't necessary for survival Dadan and the bandits just didn’t really bother.” That was also the reason why Sabo had been the one to teach him and Luffy stuff like reading and writing.

*

Makino had brought them new clothes today, they kept growing out of their old ones. Both Ace and Sabo seemed to gain height rapidly, whereas Luffy just kind of remained small. As Makino is watching all three boys try their new outfits, she can't help but note how similar Ace and Sabo look. Other than hair color and length the two were almost identical. Same height, same build, same grey eyes. While Sabo’s hair was buzzed short, Makino was certain it curled similarly to Ace’s if he let it grow out. The biggest difference was the dusting of freckles on Ace's face that was missing from Sabo's

“You know, I keep thinking the two of you are like twins, maybe separated at birth or something.” Makino giggles a bit at the thought, it would be quite ironic if that was the case. All three boys go quiet and look at Makino confused.

“You do know what twins are right?” All three shake their heads, ‘No’.

"Well, Twins are two people who are born at the same time, depending on the kind of twins they might look identical. Though I have seen twins who looked nothing alike too."

"That sounds really cool. Hey, can't you two be twins."

"Luffy I don’t think it works like that besides, we weren't born on the same day."

"But you do look similar!” Makino pointed out and Luffy turned back to them, stars in his eyes. Sabo looked to Ace trying to get the other to help him out but Ace looked contemplative. “Well, why not? We are already brothers, why not call ourselves twins? You heard Makino.”

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, it would be quite fun. Besides three of you could all pass for blood-related brothers anyway.”

“Imagine this; Ace and Sabo the twins of Mt. Colubo." Makino gestures above her head like there is an invisible sign above her. Sabo actually likes how that sounds

“Well when you say it like that…”

“It is decided! From now on Ace and Sabo will be twins!” Luffy’s declaration makes both Ace and Sabo smile.

*

“Believe it or not, but I was a lot less resentful of myself when he was still alive. Kind of hard to hate yourself when one of the people most important to you shares things like a birthday with you.”

“Really? a less hate-full Ace? I can’t see it.” Thatch gets a punch just for that one.

"Talking about birthdays, When is yours, you’ve been with us almost 8 months at this point we have to be coming close to it by now.”

Ace hesitates and Thatch gets a horrified look, “Ace don’t tell me we missed your birthday. How old are you?!”

“Well… I don’t really like celebrating my birthday, in part because it reminds me of Sabo. Though we haven’t missed it and I’m 18.”

“Well at least tell us the month, so we know who to group you in with.” That's right, because of how big the crew was it would almost be impossible to celebrate every single birthday. They would get very little done other than partying. At the end of each month, they held a party in celebration of those who had a birthday.

“I don’t know.” Ace hesitates.

“Ace please, even if it just stays between us three- Er well I probably can’t get out of telling Izo, so us three and Izo.”

“Fine, it's January.”

“January what.” Ace glares at Thatch, the cook just gives him his best puppy-dog eyes. Ace turns away and mumbles a date. “Please repeat.”

“It's January first alright. Happy now?”

“Very happy.”

*

“Say if we are twins shouldn’t we share a birthday.” Ace looks up from where he had been counting their latest treasure haul. For once Luffy wasn’t with them, he was somewhere else in the forest.

Ace contemplates it Makino had mentioned that twins should share a birthday. He didn’t really care about stuff like that anyhow so it didn’t really matter to him if they decided to share theirs. “Sure just not mine, I hate mine. It reminds me of the fact that I was born.”

“Well, then I think we should choose yours.” Sabo’s smile is smug and his arms are crossed in defiance of what Ace had said. Irritated by his brother's words, he goes to yell at him.

“Sabo I just said-”

“If it's mine too you can’t hate it because that would mean hating me, right?” Ace glares at Sabo, he hates how right the other is. The black-haired boy tsk’s before looking away.

“I hate you.” There isn’t any bite to the words, and Sabo just grins back. The blonde already celebrating his victory. singsonging back “No you don’t.”

*

“How did he die, if you don’t mind me asking.” Ace doesn’t feel like Marco is pressing him and would accept no answer just fine, but Ace has already shared this much about Sabo. Why not add his death to it?

“Shot down by a celestial dragon. To make a long story short, Sabo had tried to set out early, but it happened to be at the same time a celestial dragon was visiting. The guy didn’t like someone else sailing beside him and shot Sabo down.” Thatch clenches his fist on the counter and Marco seems to glare out into the air. Ace isn’t doing much better, but he is happy that they understand his anger. Both men have seen firsthand the kind of brutality the celestial dragons commit.

“We didn’t even have a body to bury, everything was lost to the sea.” That had always been the worst part. Not having anything to give a proper farewell. They did make a small gravestone, but there is nothing buried where it lies.

“After that Luffy became my reason to live. I even made him a promise that I wouldn’t die, and we also promised to set out at 17. That's what Sabo had wanted to do, so now we both do it in honor of him.” The air hangs heavy in the room. a solemn silence that puts an end to their conversation.