Work Text:
His brother. His brother was chained down on his knees on a platform in front of all of them. A battle was waging on, the sound of yelling, screaming, swords clashing, guns firing. His brother he was gonna die he was… he was surrounded by marines. Luffy tried his best to remain aware of his surroundings, but everything felt like it was blending together and his vision was going blurry.
“Strawhat-yoi!” Marco ran in front of him, smacking his face and shaking his shoulders. “Oi! What’s going on with you? Strawhat-yoi! Snap out of it!” His eyes had a sheen over them. He blinked slowly and didn’t seem to be hearing anything Marco was saying. The phoenix gritted his teeth together before picking up Luffy and dodging a stray bullet before continuing. Another Whitebeard pirate was reloading his two guns, “Marco, what’s Ace’s kid brother doing here? This isn’t his fight!” He spun one of the guns in his hand before steadily aiming and quickly shooting four marines.
Marco looked down at the unresponsive Luffy, a bead of sweat flipping down his face. “Don’t ask me, shooter-yoi. He was just standing there in the middle of the battle…” Marco looked back at Ace only to see him looking directly at Luffy, his breathing heavy as he stared at his brother. The shooter looked between Ace and Luffy with amusement. “Seems like Ace has been keepin’ an eye out on his kid brother.”
Marco hums, “Expected nothing else from Ace-yoi.” The Shooter twirls his other gun before shooting three other Marines. “As much as I enjoy your company here, I would bring the kid to somewhere—“ He brought both of his guns up and shot two people simultaneously, “— safer for him. You know Ace would kill us if he found out his kid brother was hurt.” Marco sweat drops, “Don’t remind me…”
“Get going now Marco,” The phoenix rolls his eyes but doesn’t say anything else, picking up Luffy by the shoulders. “Ah, Strawhat-yoi is pretty light—“ A bullet races past Whitebeard's shooter, embedding itself in a wall but not before passing by scarily close to Luffy’s head.
Both Marco and the shooter sweatdropped heavily, looking over at the battle field and trying to find who shot that bullet. “Marco, get going.” He didn’t argue, leaving quickly with the strawhat kid in his arms.
“Where the hell do I put this kid… I can’t just be running around with Strawhat-yoi…” Marco looked down at Ace’s little brother and was relieved to see him slowly blinking. He ducked behind a pillar and watched him nervously.
“Come on, snap out of it Strawhat-yoi…” He waved his hand in front of Luffy’s face, readjusting him so he was right in front of Luffy. “Strawhat-yoi? You in there?” Luffy’s eyes suddenly widened and he darted up from where he was laying, causing his forehead to collide with Marco’s. The phoenix yelped and help his forehead, looking at Luffy with exasperated eyes.
“Well look who’s finally up.” He rubbed his forehead before gingery removing his hand and sighing. “Strawhat-yoi, you need to get out of here, this isn’t your fight.” Luffy slowly turns to look at Marco, “…That's my brother up there… this is my fight as much as it is yours.” He stood up, kneeling on one leg before shakily standing up fully.
“I will save my brother, I don’t care what happens, I don’t care if I die, I need to save him…” Marco looked at him with wide eyes before scoffing, “Yeah, good luck with that Strawhat-yoi. Don’t get in our way, though.” And Marco darted away to join his fellow pirates. Luffy cracked his fingers before blasting himself toward the Marines.
Punches flew, gunshots rang out, canons exploded, swords collided, and bodies fell. Luffy sent Marines flying left and right, his eyes wide and breath controlled, eyes darting across the whole field, aware of everyone around him. Everytime the small crowd of Marines he fought was on the floor, he would move over to another and completely overwhelm them. Ace stared at his brother with wide worried eyes from where he was shackled.
“Don’t worry Fire Fist, your little brother will be gone soon.” Akainu smiled at Ace who growled at him, only to be kicked in the back. “Shut up, pirate.” Ace gritted his teeth but kept quiet, looking back at his little brother and gulping. “Please let him survive this…”
Luffy was focused solely on the battlefield, his eyes wide and calculating unlike his usual self. Sengoku stood by his brother while Akainu jumped down to— The Marines quickly shied away toward other pirates and Luffy sweat dropped. Shit he was coming for him.
Luffy quickly turned around and began to run, ducking and dodging under pillars, barrels, and other people. Ace struggled in his restraints but before Sengoku could tell him to calm, a Marine was thrown into a wall and Whitebeard stepped up to him with dark eyes. Sengoku turned toward him and rolled up his sleeves.
“Here to take Roger’s son?” Sengoku asked, Whitebeard remained motionless, “No. I’m here to take one of my commanders back.” Sengoku chuckled, “Alright then, let’s see you get past me, Whitebeard.”
Meanwhile, Luffy was still avoiding Akainu. He spotted Crocodile dealing with a few Marine Captains, he jumped over Crocodile and led Akainu straight to him. “You damn STRAWHAT!” Akainu exclaimed, his hands beginning to glow with magma. Crocodile sweatdropped and threw sand at Akainu, causing him to sputter for a moment, allowing the Whitebeard commanders a brief advantage. Crocodile grabbed Luffy by the back of his vest and scowled at him,” You little brat…” Luffy grinned at him and Crocodile threw him toward the other side of the battlefield.
Galdino saw Luffy flying and tossed a key up to him, which Luffy quickly caught. It felt odd in his hands but he gripped it tightly, Buggy glanced up at Luffy who used his Devil Fruit to latch onto another pillar. “YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR MY BRILLIANCE, STRAWHAT-GANE!” Luffy grinned and slid onto the platform where Ace was kept and looked at Whitebeard and Sengoku clashing, trying his best to discreetly—
“STRAWHATT!” Akainu roared out from the sea of pirates and Marines. Sengoku spun around swiftly to see Luffy, who was already jamming the key inside of Ace’s handcuffs. Sengoku’s body began to grow using his devil fruit and Luffy’s hands were shaking as he turned the key, pulling Ace out of the handcuffs quickly and flinching when he heard Akainu roar out in anger.
Sengoku towered over everyone, his golden form looking down at them with angry eyes, he would not fail this. He reached to swipe out and grab the two brothers but Luffy slingshotted them away.
“Oh seas I didn’t think this out I’m not good at this oh seas shit…” Luffy muttered to himself as he jerked under Akainu’s flying magma fist. The Admiral’s feet skidded and he gritted his teeth together. Ace gripped into him.
“ Lulu? Luffy? How did you— Luffy, you need to get out of here—“ Ace felt all over Luffy, his eyes wide and worried. Before he was able to speak, a fist came quickly flying toward them. Ace was ready to push Luffy out of the way but Luffy turned, the magma only hitting the side of his stomach. Luffy, nonetheless, screamed at the excruciating burning feeling. Everyone across the field looked over and Ace’s hands shook as he held his brother’s body.
Crocodile, wanting to leave as soon as possible , regardless if they beat the Marines or not, shoved sand into their face then promptly punched Akainu before running. Whitebeard grabbed Ace and Luffy, just barely avoiding Sengoku’s large golden hand. Pirates began to flee and get in their last hits before turning tail back to their crews. Snipers shot at the Marines attempting to follow and Akainu roared out once more, joined by Sengoku.
“DAMN YOU, FUCKING STRAWHAT!! WE WILL FIND YOU AND END YOU!!”