Archive of Our Own

It hadn’t bothered him then, the knowledge that he was essentially lying to someone he had once seen as a brother. It had been for the best, or so he had been told. As a young man, he hadn’t known better and given his powers he could manage just fine in making sure no one was any wiser as to what really happened.

Garp had asked him to do this, this personal favor in an effort to get Dragon back on the right path. Stating that the man’s lover had been filling his head with all kinds of lies and they needed that to stop.

Rosinante had liked Dragon, the man had been a big brother and favourite Cousin all rolled into one. So when he left the Marines, Rosi had been heartbroken and never quite forgave him for that. So being chosen, being asked to do that by the man he had seen as an Uncle, he didn’t think it could be so bad.

Except he still hadn’t forgotten the screams of Dragon’s lover when he told them that the baby was stillborn. The tears on Wani’s face and on their cheeks at the notion that their own body had betrayed them in delivering something so precious. Rosinante had explained he didn’t want to make it even harder and had disposed of the baby. All the while hiding the infant away until he could sneak away under the cover of night with no one being any wiser. Dragon had been out, the perfect timing really. So Rosinante could get into Baltigo and assimilate into the medical staff that were looking over Edward D. Wani.

At the time he had tried to put it out of his head. Keeping the infant hidden away and under the influence of his devil fruit. Until he was on a ship taking him into the direction of the East Blue. Only taking care of the infant so nothing happened to him, a boy, unnamed as he had no idea what Dragon or his partner would want to name him.

Once in Loguetown he handed the infant off to his paternal Grandfather; Garp, who thanked him for his service and that had to be the end of that.

Except it wasn’t.

For the longest time it had been, there were so many faces and names that Rosi interacted with he forgot about them eventually. But that baby never truly left. And now, looking on as Law slept next to him, it all started coming back.

Flinching at the cries he could hear echoing in his head, the way the mother had been distraught and crying so much. Wanting to see her son, all the while Rosi said it was best that she didn’t. He had left that night, without getting caught by anyone in the Revolutionary Army. Still hearing the cries that came from the infirmary, joined by a deeper voice, Dragon’s voice, as he and his partner mourned the loss of their child.

Reaching out for Law, Rosinante ran a hand over Law’s hair and couldn’t help but think that he was willing to do anything. He would burn the world if it meant Law would live and in a way he had taken that away from Dragon and Wani. He had chosen to destroy their souls so completely because he truly believed that he had been doing the right thing. Aided by Garp’s vision on how things should have gone, and not able to look at things from his own perspective.

In the end, one thing he did learn from being around his brother was that nothing was ever what it seemed. Garp, he could see now, didn’t want Dragon back at the Marines. No one in their right mind would allow that to happen. No, what the man wanted was a chance to raise his grandson without outside interference and a chance to retry.

Wiping at his cheek, Rosinante felt the tears running down. Digging out a piece of paper and putting his pen to it. He needed to confess, and he needed to do it now as he had no idea how long he would be able to keep undercover and make sure that regardless of anything, Dragon knew his son lived.

—

Dragon had grown accustomed to expect the unexpected. One wasn’t the leader of an underground organisation with the goal of undoing the corruption in the world and making sure a Revolution took place, by being compliant.

It had started with the loss of his son, the euphoria he had felt when news reached him that Wani had gone into labour. Only to arrive at Baltigo to the news that his baby was stillborn. He didn’t understand, and neither did Wani, as nothing had ever indicated anything to be wrong. Their son had been healthy on check-ups so to know that in the last couple of weeks it had gone wrong didn’t sit well with him.

Wani had been having an even worse time with it. Dealing with body dysmorphia as they had, but willing to carry the pregnancy to term as it would give them something so uniquely them, they had been looking forward to the arrival of their son. For Wani to hear that it had been their body who betrayed them and who hadn’t been working fast enough or gentle enough that the baby died had broken them.

Given that this had been something the both of them had been looking forward to. Coupled with the fact that neither of them had been able to say goodbye, it ate at the both of them. To the point that there were no them. Wani left, passing by Iva to get a hormone treatment and turn into a man so they didn’t have to deal with the body that betrayed them all the time. Even if, at its core, that feeling would never go away. They exploded, emotions too high without an outlet, so they took it out on each other.

Last he heard, Wani had also gone back to their Pops and had a falling out the likes that not a lot of people had. A clash that he knew would never have happened if Wani hadn’t still been so high on hormones (both from the birth and from the change into a man) nor hurting as much as they had been after the loss of their little star.

Rosinante had been someone from a life before all of that, someone Dragon knew stayed a Marine even if he left them after God Valley. They had stayed in contact, for a while, until eventually that too faded. So, to see a letter from the man sitting on his desk had him frowning, but in honor of their friendship he opened it and almost wished he hadn’t.

Dragon

Your child is alive and I am so very sorry for my part in the grief you and your partner had to go through thinking he was dead. Nothing I can say or do will make up for that, and a part of me will always resent myself more than you or Wani can resent me for what I did.

“What…” He didn’t know what to think, couldn’t connect the dots even if anger started brewing inside of his chest. Enough that his devil fruit was picking up on it, and as such, the skies around Baltigo were darkening with storm clouds.

Despite part of him not wanting to know, Dragon kept on reading.

Your son was born healthy on the 5th of May at 11:50 PM. How do I know that? Because I was there in the delivery room. I caught him as Wani gave birth and I used my devil fruit power to quiet him and make it seem like it was a stillbirth.

As I said, I resent myself more than you or Wani ever could. But at the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. Your father told me that you had a lover that was keeping you swayed to the other side and I believed him when I shouldn’t have done that. He asked me to infiltrate Baltigo but not let anyone of the Marines know where to find you. I was to take the child by any means necessary and bring them to him.

Garp took custody of Baby Monkey on May 12th, at Loguetown and I swear to the Old Gods that I don’t know what happened to him after that.

There are a few lines crossed out that are unreadable, before Rosinante’s writing picks up again.

I had no idea what I took from you, not until I found myself a Son. Trafalgar D. Water Law, a 13 year old who lost his whole family, his whole island, in the slaughter of Flevence. I ran into him on another undercover op, this one at my brother’s side, where Law came trying to take as many people with him as he killed himself. He was an angry little boy, but I can’t let him kill himself and I don’t want to let Amber Lead Syndrome take his life when I can do something about it.

So, I did something stupid and left Doffy’s side. Making my way to every hospital in the North Blue to find a cure and now that it’s clear that isn’t going to work I am going to steal a devil fruit that I hope will bring relief. I’m sure you heard about it, the Ope Ope no Mi. Once Law eats that, I hope he can cure himself and we can set out to get away from the Marines, who I deserted, and Doffy, who I betrayed.

Chances are I won’t be able to do either, but at least I hope that Law survives and if you encounter him that you are kind and help him. He doesn’t deserve the anger I do, or the scorn I’m sure you feel for me. But I needed you to know, to confess, in a way, as I fear I won’t live long now.

Your friend

Rosinante

It took way too long for Dragon to get his bearings, to read and reread the letter to see that his son was alive. He didn’t know what to think of Rosi’s part in all of this, but for some reason his father’s part didn’t surprise him at all. The man had never quite forgiven him that he had left the Marines, but to think that he went to these lengths to get a ‘second chance’ it hurt.

“That bastard,” He uttered. Taking a calming breath before shaking his head and standing, leaving his office for the planning room. He needed to tell Wani and the last intel to put them in Alabasta. They needed to know and after that they could see about getting their baby back. Even if he wasn’t a baby anymore, but they had to try.

Iva came towards him and he told them to ready a boat and set sail towards Alabasta. He would take a smaller ship than the Wind Granma to the North and get Rosinante and Law. And whoever else was there with him. After that, Rosinante could tell both him and Wani what had happened that night and how he could do something like that.

Most of all, and this is what hurt the most, Dragon knew he could forgive Rosinante for being so naive. Wani would have more trouble with that, but Dragon would forgive him. His father on the other hand, that man was dead to him.

—

Rosi hadn’t known what to expect when he sent Law out on his own to get help. To talk to one of the Marine Officers that were arriving on the island in the hope of getting help. He hadn’t expected it to work, had kind of assumed that he’d be dead by the time the pre-teen came back.

Only things didn’t go as planned.

Law did return, but the man following behind him was not someone Rosi had expected to see here. Even less so, looking so mild mannared. He had believed his letter to make its way to Dragon, the Newscoo often made its way to places even the Marines couldn’t find. Morgans never felt inclined to share either, even if more than one side asked for that information.

Seeing Dragon made him want to sink into the ground. Of all the people that could come to his rescue this was the one he didn’t think would.

Breath hitching, he looked from Law to Dragon, before trying to gain any insight into what the man in front of him was thinking, “Dragon, I…”

Dragon shook his head, “We can talk about that later. I’m angry, but I can see where you were misled and where Garp had his hand in the pot. I don’t… I can’t forget and I don’t think I ever will. But I won’t leave you out here to die, Rosi.”

“Cora-san,” Law’s voice was soft, but the question was clear, “He told me he knew you and he knew the correct codes.”

Nodding, Rosi explained that he and Dragon were old friends until he did something that would ruin their friendship forever. He did add that he knew at his core, Dragon was a much better person than he would ever be. Fighting for what is right, with the Revolution, and making sure that people who were dealt the short end of the stick had help in getting out of the mess someone else had created for them.

Law didn’t say anything about that, he most likely couldn’t as he looked dead on his feet. One more thing he would forever remember is how much he had pushed his loved ones. How much he had hurt them. That was, until Dragon got him off of his feet, using his slightly smaller statue to have Rosi lean on his shoulder while the Revolutionary leader took a hold of Law and picked him up.

Moving slowly as he stated that his ship was not that far from there. They could get on under the cover of night and leave before the Marines started searching the island or Doflamingo arrived as rumours did state he was inbound as well.

It was a good thing Dragon did get them out of there, as the moment they left the harbor and set out to open sea, Doffy’s birthcage came into being and would no doubt wreck havoc on that island. The only good thing was that currently there were only Marines and a beaten up Pirate Crew there. So Rosi didn’t need to feel bad about preventing Dragon from doing his job.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, Rosi,” Dragon muttered as he led Rosi into the ship they were on. Into the infirmary where he laid a passed out Law down before turning to Rosi and mentioning him to strip off his clothes on his top half. Getting the bullets out and the wounds disinfected and if needed stitched up. Bandaging the whole of his chest before putting in an IV and making sure that he had at least one unit of blood extra for what he lost.

He stayed silent, trying to perceive what Dragon wanted. What would happen now, as he didn’t quite know with the man that had once been his best friend. Dragon had changed, that much was obvious, but Rosinante had expected screams and curses. He had truly believed that when he saw Dragon the man would finish the job the Pirates had started, taking Law out of there (which would have been a good option) and leaving Rosi there to die.

After the silence stretched on for too long, Rosinante spoke, “Dragon, I… Nothing I can say will undo what I did. But I am sorry, so very sorry for what I did.”

Dragon hummed, “I know and a part of me forgave you already, although I didn’t forget. It’s Wani that will have a much harder time to forgive.”

Blanching at the mention of the other parent, he carefully asks how they are doing.

The look on Dragon’s face says it all though. The heartbreak is clear to see as is the loss and the anger that slumbers beneath. Rosi should have expected that not a lot of couples survive the loss of a child and given how traumatic it had happened he couldn’t blame them either. As such, he was well aware that his life might still be forfeit if Wani decided he needed to die for that.

Not that Rosi could blame them, he had done something horrible.

“If Wani does kill me, will you see to it that Law gets taken care of,” He asks, and Dragon looks shocked at that. But he doesn’t argue, instead he just nods and turns around to get an IV in Law’s arm as well. Stating the kid is going to need all of his energy if he is to get through this and gain enough strength to get himself cured.

Given the hasty way they had left Minion Island, it isn’t surprising that Dragon anchored at Swallow Island to make sure they are stocked enough for the trip to Alabasta. It seemed like a logical idea. What didn’t seem as such were the three teens that the man brought back, two humans, and a mink of all things.

At least it gave Rosi something to do except worry for Law where his kid was slowly curing himself. Getting three new charges to look after once he realizes that all four of the teens got along like a house on fire. In his mind, even if he meets his end in Alabasta, at least Law won’t be alone anymore.

—

Crocodile was a broken man, even if he didn’t admit to that to just anyone.

He had been broken, more than once, and had been able to build himself up again. Had started an empire from nothing and didn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Finding a place to settle in Alabasta as it meant that regardless of what happened now he would be able to get to the New World and the people he had once held dear. Knowing, hoping, that if push came to shove he could count on them to protect him.

Yet, nothing had prepared him for Alabastian Soldiers to come calling on him as a ship of the Revolutionary Army had been seen in the harbor. It didn’t make sense, not really, as he knew Dragon wouldn’t go after Cobra. The man was a saint compared to other royals, so had no need for the Revolutionary Army to interfere.

Still, as he had been welcomed by the people here he went to check it out. Finding the deck quiet and that put him on edge. Even if nothing did more than the sky darkening and lightning crashing around them.

Looking around, he wasn’t surprised to see Dragon standing there. His ex-spouse looked broken in a way that Crocodile hadn’t seen since then. A moment in his life he didn’t want to revisit. Yet, the set of Dragon’s eyes made it clear they might just have to.

“Dragon, what are you doing here,” His voice carried over the now abandoned docks.

The Revolutionary stepped closer before taking out a piece of paper and handing it over. Looking on as Crocodile took it and read it over. His breath caught in his throat for every line he read. His devil fruit reacted to his state of mind, which is when rain hit him so he couldn’t harm anyone around.

As much as he hated getting wet, this was the perfect way to get him under control. Something Dragon knew. Licking his lips, he looked at the man in front of him, “Are you certain?”

Dragon’s nod is the only thing he needs to break once more. Taking a couple of steps to land into the open arms of the man he had loved, still loved, and the father of his son. Resting onto a strong chest as he cried. Not caring who saw, not caring for once about what this would mean and instead of allowing grief to settle once more. Grief at missing out so much in his son’s life.

Strong arms wrap around him as a couple of tears fall where Dragon is resting his head on Wani’s. The both of them tried to deal with this, with the biggest lie they had been told and how to move forward. His voice is soft as Dragon explains that he went to get Rosi after reading the letter and the man is currently still recovering on the Wind Granma. Certain that Wani would kill him for what he did.

“He’s on the Wind Granma, he and his adopted son.” Dragon muttered, no doubt looking on as to what Wani’s reaction was.

To be fair, Wani has no idea how to react to this. He’s mad, furious even and part of that is with Rosinante for sure. He had torn apart their family, Wani’s family in more ways than one and that was something he’d never been able to forget. On the other hand, Rosinante had been young, still was young, adopted by Sengoku after his traumatic childhood and no doubt fed a lot of stories about what an amazing man Garp was. Not all the blame could be put on his shoulders, although Wani was certain that there was no friendship to bloom on that side. Not after everything that happened.

Garp on the other hand, that man was as good as dead for what he had done. Not just in terms of their child, but also in terms of how he had treated Dragon as a child, a cadet and now as a grown man. As well as how easily he had manipulated a young man into doing his bidding. Part of him also never forgot that moment when the Roger and Whitebeard Pirates had met up and the Marine had snuck up on the kids (those being Wani, Marco, Shanks and Buggy) and would have kidnapped them to make into ‘outstanding marines’ if Wani hadn’t acted and hit the man in the nuts with a kick he still didn’t know how he managed. But he did, and the Marine didn’t have time to collect himself before both Pops and Roger were there with furious looks on their faces. Chances were the bastard never did forgive him for that.

As he tells Dragon, the man smiles softly, “Rosi was so certain you were going to kill him. Enough that he asked me to take care of Law in the event of.”

Scoffing, Wani pulled back from the embrace even though they really didn’t want to, “I don’t like him and I doubt I will like him for a long time to come. But he was just older than a teenager, Dragon, a teenager whose adoptive father is Garp’s best friend. He didn’t know the man would be able to do that. Rosinante, I’m sure, never saw the man we did.”

The look Dragon shoots at him is one of gratitude, as he would stay on Wani’s side of this conflict. But part of him did not want to be presented with the fact that he might still lose his best friend. He didn’t think Wani would go quite that far, but to hear that Rosi is safe does help. He understands Wani’s stance on all of this, and he wouldn’t force their (ex-)partner to do anything they don’t want.

“Let’s go and talk to him, try to piece together what happened and if there is a chance of finding our son.” Wani’s voice is soft, but revering in the way that they know now there was a little boy somewhere out there that was part of the two of them.

—

Rosi tells them everything he knows and remembers. Starting with the fact that Garp had reached out with a special mission where no one else knew anything about. A strange glint in his eyes as he told Rosi what to do.

“I didn’t think about it at that point, too eager to prove myself,” He whispers, “And I know I’ll never be able to forgive myself for what happened. I didn’t think straight and all I could think about was finishing this would mean that Dragon would come back and he’d be my friend again.”

There is a lot of weight to those words, making it clear to Dragon just how much his desertion had impacted others outside of his family. He and Rosi had always been friends, but leaving the Marines meant he couldn’t interact with the blond anymore and someone like Rosi, who had known so much loss already that must have been devastating.

At the time all he had seen was an institution that bent over backwards for the top of the world. Enough that they would kill innocent civilians, or help the Celestial Dragons do as much. It didn’t sit right with him, especially not when his father told him to look the other way and help those he could while letting the others die. Dragon had refused and he should have known then and there that his father wouldn’t let this slide.

Sighing, he smiles softly at Rosi, “This isn’t your fault, not fully. He was one of your heroes, I know he was given everything Sengoku told you about him. And he was once a great Marine, but he’s also a lousy father as proven once again.”

Nodding, Rosi agrees with him. Looking back at where Law had been resting, “I can see that now. I… I don’t think I’d ever be able to tell Law to just suck it up and now, given everything I did see I don’t know if I can believe in the Marines anymore. There is nothing honorable about it, even if I tried, all they asked was for me to lie and deceive people. There is no truth in that, no power to change the world, all it does is make sure I hurt someone down the line.”

His eyes rest on Wani and Dragon, “I am so sorry for what I did to hurt you. I didn’t mean for that to happen, and I don’t…”

Wani is the one who stops him now, who tells him that he had been naive and things like that happen. But they also ask him to recount anything and everything they remember from that last interaction with Garp. Anything at all that might lead them to their son.

It takes him a moment to gather his thoughts, before Rosi is sharing everything he remembered. How Garp had been adamant that they meet in the East Blue and that he’d take it from there. Mentioning that Garp didn’t make any notion as to what he wanted to do with the infant, and if he had plans at all or if this was just a case of making sure Dragon and Wani did not have their son.

Licking his lips, Dragon dares to ask if Garp named him.

“He did, Monkey D. Luffy. Mentioning that it felt right as the kid would be sailing into a whole new direction, even if I don’t know what he meant by that,” Rosi admitted.

Dragon’s breath caught in his throat, before he did confess to once telling his father he had wanted to call his child Luffy. I had read it somewhere, and felt that it would indeed be the right name to use. “Not long after I left the Marines, I ran into Garp once more and I told him I was going to make sure the world had a new direction to take. He took that and twisted it into something else, and took our son from us to do so.”

Pondering for a moment, he added, “My home island is in the East Blue. What are the odds that he would hide Luffy there?”

Wani, who had been quiet for a while, spoke, “That’s what you wanted to call our son?”

Blinking, Dragon nodded, “I did… I just, I figured we could talk about it later on but that never came and now we didn’t even name him. I’m sorry if you don’t like it.”

Shaking their head, Wani smiles, “I think it fits, I don’t know how, but it fits as does the mention of him being a new direction to go into. I’d like that, if we find him.” Purple eyes are intense as they look at Dragon’s, “Your home island is as good a start as any in my opinion. We need to start somewhere and maybe, even if he isn’t there, someone did see Garp with a child.”

They ask Rosi what he wants to do, eventually letting the man go on an island close to Sabaody. He mentioned not knowing what to do now, but he’d manage and keep an eye on Law and his little band of friends. Thanking both Wani and Dragon for their kindness and their forgiveness as they part ways. Wishing them luck and hoping that the sea is favourable so they can find Luffy again.

Once there, Dragon gives orders, “Set sail to Dawn Island, East Blue. We can check up on Luffy being there at the same time we keep an eye out for the Celestial Dragon reports that are making their way to Goa, which is also on Dawn.”

Before joining, Wani had updated their second in command and asked them to keep an eye out and to keep themselves safe. Things were going to change and if everything did turn out as they hoped it would, their son would be with them once more. But that also meant that Sir Crocodile had to disappear for a little while. As such, while he didn’t want to fully change who he was now, Wani used their devil fruit to alter their appearance just enough that they didn’t fully look like Edward Wani or Sir Crocodile. Making it easier to move once in the East Blue, to keep undercover as much as possible and to hopefully find their son soon enough.

—

Luffy’s parents didn’t want him, or that’s what he had been told since he was a lot smaller. He didn’t know how it worked, but when he asked Gramps why he didn’t have a mom or a dad, that’s what the man had told him.

He didn’t understand, so he had asked Makino and her face had turned sad. Telling him that she didn’t know what happened, but what she did know was that Garp had arrived here with him when he was a baby. The look in his eyes telling her that something must have happened and she had taken her own conclusions out of that.

She never did share those, and Luffy didn’t care to hear them either. But it hurt, knowing that not even his own parents wanted him.

Living in Windmill hadn’t been easy, as he didn’t have friends there. While he had Makino, she was busy with the bar and making sure that he was taken care of. In a way she was his mom, except when he called her that, she told him she wasn’t his mom but his cousin. The daughter of his Grandma’s sister, so family in another way. Yet, that still left him alone most of the time, a feeling he had felt hurt worse than being actually hurt.

That also happened, as people were afraid. They knew Gramps, but he was some big-shot Marine that people feared because of that. With him almost never being home, and leaving Luffy alone too, most of the other kids teased him about it; how he was odd, how he didn’t have parents, how he was alone. No matter what he tried, none of them wanted to be friends with him.

Until Shanks, until the Red-Hair Pirates had docked at Windmill and Luffy had people that cared. People that wanted to get to know him and didn’t look at him off just because of who he was. Shanks even shared that his Captain had also been a D, so he had grown up with them around. Giving him some sense of normalcy. Up until things turned south after he accidentally ate a devil fruit.

Shanks had been mad, leading to Luffy running upstairs to hide. Not wanting his only friend to hate him too. But that didn’t happen, Shanks had come upstairs and explained it to him. How that fruit was special, a devil fruit, so he wouldn’t be able to swim anymore. “I didn’t want you to eat it as you’re still so young, Anchor, and you want to be a Pirate. I just worry what’ll happen if you don’t have a crew that knows to watch out for you given you’re now truly an Anchor if you fall in the sea.”

Luffy had started crying, apologizing, and finding that Shanks comforted him without any shame. Pulling him close and explaining he hadn’t been angry at Luffy, he couldn’t have known. He was angry at himself and his crew for letting this happen. As well as a little at the situation, but never at Luffy.

Looking up to him just for that had been one of the main reasons that Luffy had called out the bandit once Shanks and his crew left. How they couldn’t make fun of the only friend he had, and paid the price for it. Being thrown into the sea, with Shanks hurrying to save him and losing an arm in the process. The guilt, coupled with the knowledge that Shanks would leave hadn’t helped there. Even if the hat he had been given made things easier.

At least until Gramps had found out. He had been livid, arguing with Makino on how she could have let that happen before he’d taken Luffy into the woods and up the mountain in the middle of the night. He hadn’t liked that, had been scared about what might happen now and didn’t know what to think of the people he had been left at. Dadan was also a mountain bandit and he didn’t like mountain bandits as a whole.

One of the few bright spots was Ace, who was about his age and who he hadn’t seen before. Gramps even called them family, so he had tried to get close but found himself blocked by Ace at almost every turn.

Except when Bluejam found out about Ace and Sabo, someone Ace had been close with without Luffy knowing about him (something that hurt a little, as he wanted friends so much). Bluejam was a thug from the Gray Terminal, who expected Luffy to give up information he had on Ace and Sabo, as well as their Pirate Fund. He didn’t, refused to release anything, because he wanted Ace and Sabo to like him. They wouldn’t do that if he snitched them out.

It paid off in the end too, as both of them came to get him. Freeing him from Bluejam and his cronies before bringing him back to the relative safety of the forest. Asking him what possessed him to not spill the beans. That he would allow people to hurt him enough that he might have died.

“Because being alone hurts more! I don’t want to be alone anymore, I wanted Ace and Sabo to like me. To not leave, not like everyone else. My parents left and I don’t know why. Gramps leaves and only rarely visits. Shanks left because he couldn’t stay here and Makino was forced to leave me as Gramps was angry with her. I don’t want to lose Ace and Sabo,” Snot had been dripping from his nose as he cried. Feeling like there was no other way to make it clear to the two older boys that he wanted them to stay.

Despite it all it worked, and within a couple of weeks Luffy didn’t have friends, he had brothers. Two of them in fact!

Two older brothers, who did everything with him and the first time in a long while he didn’t feel alone and it was the best thing ever. Sabo even went with them to Dadan, which is when Gramps found out and he wasn’t happy. Least of all when all three of them wanted to become Pirates and had another one of his training sessions.

Sabo was the one to bring up that grandfathers didn’t normally hit their grandkids as Garp did, “That’s abuse, even more so as it’s obviously coming from his desire for all of us to be Marines. That isn’t right, that’s never right.”

Ace frowned, “He never accepted anything else.” Swallowing thickly, he added, “He told me I had to become a Marine or he wouldn’t be able to help me anymore. Proceeded to tell me about my dad and later on my mom, how I killed her. I don’t want to be a Marine.”

Luffy adds that his parents didn’t want him, but that’s what Gramps had told him all this time. What if there was something more to that and he just didn’t want them to find out? Sabo knew about this stuff, so maybe he could have some kind of answers there?

Eventually, they brought it up with Dadan, who paled and tried to persuade them to not think about it. Before switching to Makino, who mentioned Luffy arriving at Dawn as little more than a newborn, without his parents in sight. Her voice is hesitant as she states that Garp had told her Dragon, her cousin, didn’t want anything to do with the baby but a part of her can’t fully comprehend that.

She’s looking lost as she shares that despite not seeing him for so long, Dragon had always had a soft spot for children. Even indulging her, as his cousin, despite the twenty years or so between them. For him to not want to have anything to do with his own son just didn’t sit well with her. “I tried to write it off, as I know he’s doing something that isn’t in line with the World Government. After his very short stint as a Marine he saw horrors he won’t ever talk to me about, but it changed with and made him start something that would eventually become the Revolutionary Army.”

When no one seems to know what that is, she explains as best as she can given the knowledge that she has. Making it clear that Luffy’s father is a very wanted man, currently as wanted as the previous Pirate King even. Just for the fact that he willingly went against the World Government and the order currently in place. Doing everything he could to essentially help the world get a revolution so they could have a new start, one where there weren’t as many deaths and suffering people.

Her eyes are tired, as she whispers, “Garp never did agree with the fact that Dragon left the Marines and I didn’t have the heart to fight him about why he did. What he saw changed him so much that he used the knowledge he had to build something that could counter it. I don’t know how much he succeeded, but seeing as he’s a very wanted man I assume he doesn't do well for himself there.”

Looking at Luffy, she added, “I know Dragon was seeing someone for a long time, married them even if it was just in name given both their status as wanted criminals and I know they thought the world of that person. I’m assuming they’re your mother, although I can’t be sure as I wasn’t told about it. But they too would have loved their baby, given that their father has made it his whole theme to accept people from all over to be a part of his family, I don’t see them suddenly deciding differently.” Sighing, she added, “Something must have happened there…”

Silence took over, before Makino looked at Sabo and Ace, tilting her head before shaking it again, “You know, I’m quite certain that when Garp arrived here with Ace, there was another baby there. Someone mentioned twins, but I never heard about it again and with how much younger I was I truly believed I was dreaming. But seeing the two of you next to each other, there is a likeness that I didn’t see before or I just didn’t know where to look.”

The notion that Ace had been supposed to be a twin stuck with them for a long time after that. Thanking Makino for what she had shared, a sad look in her eyes as she gathered the three of them closer, “Know that if nothing else, I want you here and I love you enough to see you as my own, in a way. There will be others out there who’ll love you, even if it isn’t your parents.”

Hugging her back, it brought upon a new plan. One where the three of them wanted to find someone else who knew more. Who was aware of what had happened and how it came to be that Ace and Luffy (as well as Ace’s twin) were on Dawn, in Garp’s custody at that.

Sadly, one of the people that did know more was Outlook III, Sabo’s biological father who had seen them running around in High Town one day and had apparently bribed BLuejam to help him capture the three pre-teens. Despite what Sabo expected, it wasn’t to bring him back home. Instead it was to complain how he had gotten the little blond baby from a Marine to raise as his own as his wife had a stillborn not too long before. They could pretend, and no one would know.

“Except you didn’t listen and didn’t do anything like you needed to do, you brat! You ran away after everything we gave you, and found your way back to your twin brother and that little critter. I knew I couldn’t trust that Marine to keep his word, seeing as what happened to the other brats he’s raising,” Outlook’s voice became louder and louder. To the point that Sabo was both elated at knowing he was Ace’s twin brother, and scared at the fact that Outlook III was waving a gun around and looked seconds away from shooting.

He never managed that though, as a bolt of lightning struck not far from where the man was standing. Making a sliver attached to the gun and fry the man’s hand and arm, making him holler and let go. He didn’t get very far as a menacing man stopped him in his tracks and Outlook gasped out, “The Revolutionary Dragon.”

Bluejam, meanwhile, now that the noble had run away, seemed to think that he could do with the kids whatever he wanted. The look in his eyes made it clear he had enough in mind to get back from them given the chance. Except someone else was there to stop him, a dense cluster of sand moving through his men and cutting them down. Until he was the only one standing to look into dark purple eyes, “You aren’t going to touch the hair on those children’s heads, you thug, I’ll always move faster than you will.”

True to his nature, he tried, but found himself cut down regardless. Outlook had let out one more pained gasp before he too became quiet. Leaving the three kids to look at the men on either side of them.

—

Setting sail for Dawn, neither of them had been certain of what they would find.

Dragon had opted to go and talk to his cousin who lived in Windmill, to see if she knew anything. Wani had agreed, if only to get a lead to somewhere. Makino ran a bar, so even if she didn’t see Luffy, chances were she at least had heard of him.

To their surprise, after Makino gathered herself from seeing Dragon there, she told him that Luffy had lived with her for a while. At least until Redhaired Shanks came to port and left his hat behind (as well as an arm protecting Luffy) to crown a new potential Pirate King.

"Garp was so mad about that, taking Luffy away to drop him off at Dadan’s in the Mountains to raise together with another child living there, Portgas D. Ace. Wanting to make a strong marine out of the both of them, when it was clear from the start that neither wanted that for themselves.” She sighs, “Recently they adopted Sabo as the third brother, so at least Luffy is never alone. He hates being alone…”

She goes on that she had shared what she suspected. Adding that she didn’t think Dragon was the kind to abandon his child. Looking horrified when Dragon and Wani did the whole story of what happened and how they had believed their child had died until proven otherwise. Clasping her hands over her mouth before a tear ran over her cheek, “They’re looking for answers, all three of them, on what happened and how things went the way they did. If you’re looking for them, they’re either in the forests up the mountain or on the Gray Terminal looking for either treasure or something to add to their treehouse.”

It was an easy choice to set out towards the Gray Terminal, making it clear that it was a good thing they did. As they could see a band of thugs and one noble holding onto the boys. Luffy looked too much like a mix between the two of them to be anything but. And Ace, given his last name, they had known what to look for. It was clear the blond was Sabo, who it appeared was Ace’s twin from what the noble was sprouting. One more strike against Garp, as they knew who their parents had to be and one of them was still alive.

Dealing with both Outlook and the band of thugs came easily. Which left them with three lost, hurt and scared little boys. At least until Luffy took a careful step forward, “My dad’s name is Dragon… Is that?”

He didn’t finish before Dragon was nodding, kneeling down with his arms open to catch Luffy when he stumbled into them. Ace and Sabo stayed back. One of their hands clasping the other’s, a show of brotherhood they didn’t know they had until recently.

Pulling back slightly, Dragon pointed at Wani, “That’s Wani, Hatchling, your Baba. They carried you for 9 months, but things happened and we both knew mom wasn’t the right term to call them.”

Sabo tilted his head, “Makino also used they/them pronouns for you, is there a reason for that?”

Blinking, Wani nodded, trying to explain it as efficiently as possible that they had never felt like a woman but at the time changing one’s gender wasn’t so easy. So, they just kept to gender neutral pronouns, which was something most people who had met them knew. Their eyes strayed at Luffy, “After everything, I just couldn’t handle it all and had someone in the Revolutionary Army change my body. Although right now I figured out how to change it with my devil fruit too. I’m a Sand Logia, and sand is nothing if not versatile. But I didn’t have that at first, so…”

Shrugging, they go about explaining as well as they could what had happened the day Luffy had been born. How they had been told he was a stillborn, which is what drove them apart and made them unable to be there for Luffy when he needed them. Garp had taken him, and apparently it wasn’t the first time either. Just looking at Ace and Sabo verified that, as they did look alike, just not in the way identical twins did.

“The Spy who took you confessed not too long ago. Sending a letter to Dragon on what really happened and why he did it. I don’t think I’ll ever like him, but he did see that what he did was wrong and he regretted that which is what led us to come here and try to find out what really happened. Makino confesses that Garp did the same thing but with twins is just the icing on the cake,” Looking at Ace and Sabo as they said that. It’s clear that both older boys look at each other before agreeing that something was wrong with everything that had happened.

Luffy, still in Dragon’s arm, looks up with trembling lips, “So you did want me?”

Wani’s voice breaks, “More than anything in the world, but when they told me you died…” They shook their heads, “I was out of it from the labour and your dad was away on a mission, so it had been the perfect time to strike. Garp apparently used one of Dragon’s former friends to do this, to go and get the child so he’d be led back to the right path. Even if that never would have happened, that Spy believed it and did believe he was helping his friend.”

Dragon looks torn, “Rosinante is the adopted son of Garp’s best friend, Sengoku, so the things he did hear about the Old Man were all very positive. He didn’t think Garp would have it in him, until he adopted a child of his own and was faced with the possibility of losing them when he saw what he had done to me. He confessed, wrote me a letter and I got him out. Chances are high he won’t be returning to the Marines after this; not after seeing them for what they really are, like I did all those years ago.”

Before continuing with that, he settled Luffy on his hip and mentioned that they should get out of the Gray Terminal so they could talk. He was certain that they all had questions, and if what he was seeing was correct that meant that a whole lot more people were going to be involved in this than they expected.

Once inside of Makino’s bar, as the woman had been expecting them. Looking beyond relieved at them having found the boys, she told Dragon to take everyone upstairs just in case someone came in that they couldn’t explain this to. Or the wrong person entered who didn’t turn the other way when the most wanted man currently at large appeared in a backwater village in the East Blue. Too much was going now, and had been going on for a while and she too wanted to hear what really happened.

Wani gave them the long version, on how they’d never felt like a woman, but at the time hadn’t been able to change anything about it and Luffy had been a welcome surprise at one point. Enough that not even feeling off in their own body could change that, until the birth.

Tears run down their face as they go over everything that is going on, mentioning that it had broken them in ways they didn’t think they could fix. Knowing that your own body betrayed you enough to take away this one thing you were looking forward to was excruciating. Wrapping their arms around Luffy when the youngest comes to settle in their lap, hugging their child close and just letting go of the emotions trapped inside. Trying to come to terms, for real this time, that Luffy was safe and healthy in their lap and nothing was going to be able to get them out of there if Wani had anything to say about it.

From the set of his face, Dragon had much the same opinion on that. Making sure Makino knew, in detail this time, that he never would have left Luffy behind, “Hidden him for a period, sure, if things got too dangerous. Wani and I talked about that already, but never just… this.”

Sighing, he went on to share that he had been a Marine at one point, pushed to enlist by his own father. Only to be confronted with the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons, their disregard for civilians and the blatant abuse of power the Marines were caught up in when they had to round up civilians so the Celestial Dragons could shoot them. “I resigned not long after, got out as many people as I could and had an altercation with my then superior officer because of what had happened and I only got out of there because they were certain Garp would handle me.”

His face darkened, “He didn’t handle me, not in the way they expected, but he made sure I realized he wasn’t happy with what I had done. We grew quite estranged after that, never reaching out and only ever interacting when we ran into each other. Often that didn’t end up on good terms either, even less so once he found out about Wani.”

Looking at his partner, Dragon sighed, “Their father is Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, and he didn’t like that. For all that he could get on with the likes of Roger and Newgate, he never quite liked them. I still don’t know what he hoped to gain from that, until I saw the twins. He wants to prove to the world that he can change a bloodline. That mine or Roger’s don’t matter if the children follow the path he wants them to.” His face is thunderous, “That’s the only explanation I can give for what he has done. For taking children from their parents in any way possible and leaving them to fend for themselves hoping that they’ll turn onto the righteous path.

Ace and Sabo look at each other, before sharing that Outlook had said something similar. That he had taken Sabo off of Garp’s hands as the child they had had died suddenly and he had no idea how to tell that to his wife or the upper class of Goa. So, taking on another blond child seemed to do the trick. “Until I found Ace again and he decided I was better off dead so he didn’t have to deal with me anymore. I… We didn’t know, but something did always pull us together in a way, I just didn’t think it was this.”

Sabo looked lost, “I always felt that there was something wrong, but I never expected this and while I am so glad I have Ace and Luffy now… I don’t know what we’re going to do now. We can’t stay here.”

That last is said to his brothers, the sheer loss of everything they know is something that is so big. Something they can’t really place right now. Wani and Dragon had talked about it, about what to do with Luffy. Those plans didn’t change, even if there were two other kids to take into account.

Exchanging a look, Wani gently explains that they had every intention of coming here to get Luffy out of the situation he was in. Except when he was loved and cared for, taken in by someone who did everything to give him a life worth giving. As that wasn’t the case there was no way they were going to let him stay. “Now that just includes the two of you as well, I don’t know how life will evolve, what will happen and I think we need to let Ray know what really happened. But… We aren’t going to leave the two of you behind here…”

Makino adds that while she would love to take care of the boys as she did for Luffy before, she isn’t able to do so. Nor is she able to keep Garp from doing something again. He obviously doesn’t care about rules or whatnot, not if it doesn’t fit his ideal so there is nothing for them to stay here for. “They can’t stay here, if someone were to find out…” She doesn’t add to that statement and she doesn’t need to. Well aware of Dragon’s role according to the World Government, they would love to be able to lord a child over his head.

The same with the twins, once people start to figure out who their parents are they aren’t going to be left alone. Being in the East Blue as they were, there was no one nearby that could protect them. Except Blue, but he was making it his lifestyle to stay under the radar and make sure people didn’t know to keep their eyes on him at all times before he strikes.

“We’re setting out to Orange Town in the morning, Blue can contact who we need to contact and see what needs to happen. I’m certain Ray will want to see his kids and make sure he doesn’t go hunting for an Old Fool once he realizes what happened there. Additionally, I think I need to let my Pops know about it all,” Wani’s uncertain there, the last interaction with their Pops hadn’t been a good one and he didn’t know how the man would react to all of this.

Dragon wrapped an arm around their shoulders, “Only if you want to. For all that he is your father, that doesn’t mean anything. Just look at how mine turned out.”

—

Leaving at Dawn had been the best choice they could make, too many eyes could be looking at them right now and neither Wani or Dragon wanted to deal with that right now. Given that they had left the majority of those that came with them to the East Blue on the Wind Granma and told them to get back to HQ, it was just the two of them and the kids right now.

Looking back this wasn’t the best choice, but it was the most obvious one. The less people knew about this, the more they could operate without anyone finding out. Because of that they had put the boys to bed on the ship, after they said their goodbyes to Makino. Making it easier for Wani and Dragon to rise with the sun and set out at the same time the fishermen did, as to make it less noticeable that one ship kept on going instead of stopping just after the Seaking hunting grounds.

Orange Town would take them three days to get there, leaving them to get to know the children they had taken along. As well as see just how much damage Garp had done to them. Sabo, it seemed, had the least amount of issues with everything except the fact that he was supposed to have a twin and missed out on time with him before running into said twin on the Gray Terminal.

Ace had a lot more issues, having been told he was the son of Gol D. Roger and apparently did go around frequently to ask people what they would do if they found out the Pirate King had a son. Not a lot of people had something positive to answer, so that was one thing they could tackle right now. Sharing stories about Roger as they knew him, a distant adversary but a good man in Dragon’s case, and an uncle figure for Wani. Holding Ace close as he seemed to break, adding that he had killed his, their, mom because she held onto her pregnancy to make sure no one would suspect the baby to be Roger’s. Sabo was the one who told him that seeing as they were twins part of the blame was his as well, in that case, which had Ace backing down as he would never think one of his precious brothers could do such a thing.

Luffy, sadly, had quite the separation anxiety. Something Ace and Sabo also told them about when only the youngest of the boys was still asleep. How Luffy couldn’t sleep alone, too scared that someone would leave. Attaching to someone quickly, and sadly having people leave sooner rather than later. To their surprise one of those people was Shanks, the now Emperor had been in the East Blue and had bounded with Luffy (not that it was hard, Luffy was someone you easily got attached to). Giving up an arm, and his hat, when he was here and leaving a lasting impression.

“We need to call Red too, then, once we’re at Orange Town,” Wani said, “If he cared enough to give Luffy his hat, he needs to know and it’ll give us another front to protect the boys should it come to that.”

Dragon agrees, thinking on how this is all a full circle moment as he had saved Shanks and his brother, Shamrock, once upon a time. It seemed like a lifetime ago, but he had kept an eye out for both boys. Only Shanks was seen, growing up with the Roger Pirates, but he did know that the two boys had been in contact not too long ago as he did receive some coded messages now and again. Always written in red pen, and always signed with a clover.

Glancing at the skies, he calls upon his devil fruit to give them some more wind. To make sure that they get to Orange Town all that faster. Both of them knew Buggy’s observation haki was almost always active, he would feel them coming from miles away so he should be waiting for them.

He was, Buggy that was, looking quite out of his depth at the sight of them suddenly standing there. Much less so with three kids following them off of the ship. Sighing, he mentioned for them to follow them, “Tell me everything once we’re away from the docks, you never know who is listening in.”

Once in his tent, with orders to his crew to kill anyone who approached now, he looked between Wani and Dragon, “Talk.”

So, they did. They talked, telling Buggy everything. Adding why they came here and who they needed to call. Introducing Luffy as their son, while Sabo and Ace were their adopted sons, but also Buggy’s little brothers.

The man looked shocked, before he whispered, “You lived… Mama… She, you lived?!”

Wani nods, explaining what they know and what they need to find out. Buggy has him stop, before he’s taking out a white den den mushi and connecting it to a conscription in his office. Several regular den den mushi are cosy in their nests. Connected to several screens, as he rings and one by one the screens go on with a person sitting behind it.

Rayleigh, Shanks and Gaban are easily the most recognizable. As are Sunbell and Momora, given their appearances. The others are not, but Wani trusts Buggy with his life, so if he thinks these people need to be called, they need to hear this too.

“Wani, start again, from the start.” Buggy motions him to do so, looking at the people on the screens, “I need you all to stay calm through this all.”

Telling the whole of the story, it’s clear that the Roger Pirates are all beyond mad. Something that settles when Ace and Sabo appear from the shadows with Dragon and Luffy. Having listened in on all of it, but keeping out of sight as they didn’t know what was happening. It helps that both Ray and Red are here to listen in, so that saves them a call.

“By the Seas, boys…” Rayleigh’s voice is broken, “I cannot express how happy I am, we are, to see that a part of them survived.”

Ace starts crying, which prompts Wani to share what happened to him and Sabo, how they found each other again and what Garp felt was needed to tell a child about his parents. The slight red sheen to both Shanks and Rayleigh’s eyes make it clear they are having trouble suppressing their haki. With Ray taking a deep breath before promising, as their Pops, that their mama knew what she was doing and would have done it all again. “She was a stubborn woman, easily as stubborn as Roger had been. Nothing we did or said would have convinced her of anything else but what she wanted to do, so I know this is what she knew would happen and that was a risk she was willing to take if it meant their children would be born.”

Silence reigned, before Ace spoke again, “Can you tell us about her, them, about Mama and Papa? I don’t know what to believe anymore and I…” He breaks, starts crying which is when Sabo hugs him, closely followed by Luffy.

Shanks chokes then, “Anchor!? What… How…” He gathers his thoughts, “Should have known he was yours Wani, I never could pin down who he reminded me of. Dragon was a given, going by his name, but this is…”

Luffy beams at the screen, sharing innocently and so brilliantly, that he has parents now. Even if Shanks is still one of his favourite adults.

Wani’s heart just about bursts before mentioning they need a plan. One that will keep the boys safe. They add wanting to call their own Pops to bring him up to speed and to make sure that they have several people to look after the boys. Just in case something happens, as all of them do agree that Garp is never seeing these kids again. Not if any of them can help it.

“Agreed, what was that man thinking,” Rayleigh spat, “I can’t believe that he would do such a thing, to us and to his own son. If I see him again he’ll regret it…” The man is still seething, before adding that if they can make it to Sabaody he can keep an eye out. Once in the New World they’d be safest, to which Shanks offers his own territory if needed.

Shrugging as he adds, “It isn’t that big right now, but it’s something and going by how Marines are acting they wouldn’t dare to come near an island flying mine or the Old Man’s flag.”

Glancing at each other, Dragon and Wani agree. But mention wanting to call Newgate first. He needed to know too, and none of them wanted him to find out through other channels.

Buggy, having anticipated this. Calling onto the 12th division line, and rolling his eyes as Haruta picks up, “Ed’s fish and chips, what can I get started for you?”

Snorting, Buggy answers, “Something Blue, tell your old man I need to talk to him.”

Haruta answers that he’ll need one moment, before the snail is obviously put down and they hear someone running out of the room. It doesn’t take long before two distinct footsteps come back and someone picks up the receiver, “Blue, you never just call -yoi. Pops is here, but he needs smaller hands to hold the snail lest the poor thing gets squeezed too hard.”

Chuckling softly, the other side of the line grows quiet, before an older voice comes through, “Wani, Child… I am glad to hear from you.”

Licking their lips, Wani steps closer, “Pops… I… I’m sorry. So much happened and it was just too much to handle and I took it out on you.” They give a shortened version of what was mentioned to the Roger pirates, adding on Rosinante’s role in Garp’s plot and how they found out.

“I need help, Pops, in protecting my son and his brothers.” Wani whispered.

The answer came almost instantly, from both Marco and Newgate, that they would do anything for the family. The answering call from the former Roger Pirates only added to that, as Newgate and Rayleigh started exchanging ideas on what to do with Garp once they ran into him. Stopping when all three kids let out a surprised sound, adding fuel to the fire when they mentioned not having a lot of adults close to them that wanted to help. To know they suddenly had so many, it was something they couldn’t describe.

Marco chuckles, “You’ll find that both our crew and those tied to the Roger Pirates are family orientated -yoi. I don’t think any of them will allow Garp to touch you again, I know I’ll throw myself in between before that happens.” Hushing them that his devil fruit will keep him safe, which is when Luffy reveals he has one too.

Making Shanks groan and share the story, mumbling that he didn’t mean to and he was sure the fruit had been on his ship. So how Luffy reached it was still a mystery. But it happened and he believed Luffy would do great with it.

Planning until well into the night, it was decided they would set out towards the New World as soon as possible. There they would have people to protect them all, Wani was even making plans to move his organisation into the New World. Giving Buggy intel about the contacts he had that wouldn’t be able to move with him. Just to share resources in the future.

All in all, they were happy that this was a possibility. Agreeing on what to do before they morning dawned and hoping to make it to Sabaody within three months given they now had an eternal log pose to Sabaody thanks to Buggy. Planning to set sail as soon as they were prepared, having a list with everyone’s number and a spare white snail Buggy had laying around to attach to the one on the ship to keep everyone updated.

Ace, Sabo and Luffy were looking forward to that. To the chance of sailing even if it was to settle on an island elsewhere. Everything was better than staying here and fearing for their lives once Garp found out. Allies needed to be told, and plans needed to be set into motion. The world didn’t know what happened yet, but they would, and they’d curse Monkey D. Garp for the calamities he brought upon them by doing what he believed was best.