Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Sailing the New World meant finding dangers and horrors at every twist and turn. It meant finding yourselves in the eye of a fatal storm, desperately clinging to the rigging of a ship, legs shaking, soaked in rainwater. 

Y/N gripped the rigging with his life. He never wanted to be a marine in the first place, he never wanted to sail out to the Grand Line, no more the New World. He was just a young man with his whole life ahead of him, with hobbies and dreams and skills, and so much to learn and see. 

One of his fellow cadets yelled out. “Y/N! Help us!” they cried out through the whistling of the harsh wind. Y/N took a step, but the ship rocked, sending him flying onto his back and sliding down the deck as the marine ship tipped diagonally, almost one-hundred and eighty degrees. 

Y/N yelped, grabbing a rope and clinging to it, preventing him from falling through the gaps on the railing and into the ocean. But the worst possible thing happened — the rope snapped. 

Y/N was too shocked to even scream as he was plunged into the freezing waters bubbles and darkness tumbling around him as he swam to the surface, taking a deep breath. He waded helplessly as harsh waves crashed over his head, forcing him back under the water. Tangy saltwater filled his lungs and he coughed, desperately searching for some debris to hold onto, praying for safety. 

The ship creaked from beside him, and he suddenly remembered his crew above him could help. “Help!” he shouted. “Help! Man overboard!” Y/N’s pleads for safety were in vain — over the howling of the wind, the rain on the deck and the waves crashing left and right, no one heard him. 

“Wave incoming!” a marine screamed from the deck. Y/N heard the cry and looked up, seeing a huge wave, big enough to be a tsunami, approaching him and the ship. He gasped, but he wasn’t quick enough to react — he was engulfed in the ocean quickly, inhaling water and spluttering while submerged. 

He tried to swim upwards, to take another breath, but amidst his panic, Y/N couldn’t tell which way the surface was. His lungs began to burn, and his vision began to dance with black spots. One last wave crashed over Y/N’s head and he was submerged completely in the dark ocean, his vision reduced to nothingness once the cold waters had taken over. 

•••

It was pitch black when Y/N opened his eyes. He blinked, coughing softly into the night air. He could breath… he was breathing! 

He sat up quickly, noticing that his uniform was hanging open, torn, and drenched in water. He panted, scanning the ocean from the shore he was lying on. There was no sign of a boat or a ship anywhere, no docks, no people or houses. He was completely alone. 

Y/N stumbled to his feet weakly, but almost instantly dropped back to his knees. His body was shaking, both from the cold and hunger. He glanced around the island he was on — it seemed fairly small, but smoke arose slowly from the distance. People. 

He was surrounded by trees, however, as far as the eye could see, and only a small clearing near the shore was within walking distance — for Y/N’s current condition at least — and the corner of his eye, he saw a bush, a fruit hanging off of it. 

Y/N let out a soft grunt, forcing himself to his feet. He slowly dragged himself over to the bush, dropping to his knees before it. He plucked the fruit from its branch, holding it gingerly. It was a very, very dark purple, almost black, and was shrivelled and thin. The stalk was long and spiralled upwards, and the skin of the fruit had a similar pattern. 

Y/N hesitated, but the grow in his stomach made him take a bite from the fruit. He forced himself to swallow it, but he couldn’t eat anymore. 

He threw the fruit aside, dropping to the grass. It was soft beneath him, his fingers rushing against the cool dirt beneath the blades of grass. His eyes slipped shut. If I die here, at least I’ll die peacefully…

Chapter Text

Y/N’s eyes cracked open to the sound of footsteps and laboured breathing beside him. When his vision focused, Y/N saw a pair of boots pacing back and forth, and heard a voice muttering softly to themselves.

“What the hell is going on…? This isn’t Marineford. Where is everyone? How am I alive? What is going on?!”

Y/N closed his eyes, getting to his hands and knees with a wince. His head was pounding… maybe he’s imagining a voice…?

The person yelped. “Oh my gosh, you’re alive!” Y/N blinked looked up through his brows, seeing a man with black hair, freckles, and sharp eyes staring down at you. He was covered in dirt, and a large, almost circular scar covered his entire stomach. It almost looked like he’d been punched right through his abdomen. Something about him was familiar, but Y/N couldn’t quite put his finger on what.

“Where… did you come from?” Y/N rasped out in his weak voice.

The man pointed to a hole in the ground. Y/N peered into it. Six-feet deep…

Y/N glanced up at him again. That fruit that he ate last night… the patterns on the skin, it must have been a devil fruit!

“Who are you?” the man asked Y/N, squatting down before him. “Where did you come from? You look like you’ve been in a shipwreck.”

“I have.” Y/N replied, finally getting to his feet. He leaned against a tree, exhaling slowly as he tried to regain his composure. “My name is Y/N, I’m a marine. The fleet I was on was caught in a storm, and I washed up here.”

“Geez. I’m sorry.” The man remained on the ground.

Y/N sighed, brushing back his messy hair. “What is this place?” he asked the man.

“I don’t know.” he replied. “I told you, I came from the ground. I… I’m meant to be dead. I remember dying.”

Y/N furrowed his brows, glancing down at the hole in the ground. “And I must have brought you back…” he murmured to himself.

The man stood up again, glancing around the island with his hand shielding his eyes. Y/N caught a glimpse of the head of the on his back, — a purple Jolly Roger with a white moustache. 

He gasped, staggering backwards. “Th-that tattoo… you’re a white-beard pirate!” Y/N yelped.

The man grinned and turned around. “Yeah? What’s it to you, cadet?”

Y/N’s eyes widened. “You’re… you’re Portgas D. Ace, aren’t you…?” he stammered. “G-Gold D. Roger’s son… second division commander of the white-beard pirates, I know you!” 

Ace put his hands on his hips, sighing. “Shouldn’t have assumed that’d stay a secret…” he muttered to himself. 

“I-I ought to kill you!” Y/N exclaimed, fumbling for a weapon, but he found that the gun holster at his side was empty. He instead grabbed a branch from the ground, swinging it with a wide, cautious stance. 

Ace just watched him as he circled him, getting out of the corner he’d backed himself into and putting as much distance between the two of them.

Y/N looked up at the sound of a squawk from above you. A newspaper dropped to his feet from the postal bird. On the front of it was a wanted poster for the King of the Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, for 5,600,000,000, and his current whereabouts. That’s who Y/N’s division was looking for! Maybe he could continue the mission… 

The paper was picked up by Ace, and Y/N scrambled backwards. Ace’s eyes widened, and a slow grin spread across his face. “He did it!” he exclaimed. “My little brother is the King of the Pirates! Look at that bounty!” He threw the paper in the air and whooped. “I have to find him!” 

Y/N backed away even further. “Your brother…”

“Where do I find him? I have to see him!” Ace exclaimed, ignoring you.

Y/N scoffed. “It says he’s near Loguetown. Do you even know how far of a voyage that is?” he snapped, still holding his stick before him. 

“Of course I do, Cadet,” Ace responded. “I’m still going to find him.”

“I will find him,” Y/N countered confidently. “I will find Monkey D. Luffy and take him to the marines, and finish my mission!” 

“You’re a confident little Cadet, aren’t you?” Ace raised a brow, smirking. “Well, let the race begin.” 

Y/N frowned. Ace stepped closer, taking the stick from Y/N’s hands. He snapped it. “Nice weapon, by the way.” 

Y/N scowled at him. He was very cocky for a dead man walking.  

•••

Night fell soon after Ace rose from the grave. Y/N had found himself some sticks and dry leaves to make a little fire, placing the materials in a little pile and rubbing flint together in hopes of creating a spark.

Ace had made himself comfortable on the other side of the clearing, staring at his brother’s wanted poster. Y/N shot him dirty looks every now and then, mostly just to make sure he wasn’t coming over to his side to kill him. 

Then he did. 

Well, he didn’t come to Y/N’s side to kill him, he just squatted in front of the sad excuse of a campfire.

Y/N yelped, holding out the rocks. “Go away!” he exclaimed. “This is my side of the clearing!” 

“We have sides?” he snorted. “You’re funny, Cadet. Let me help you with your little fire.” He pointed at the pile of leaves and sticks confidently, but nothing happened. Y/N stared at him. He pointed at the fire again, then again, much more frantically. 

“What the…” he rubbed his hands together, waving them at the campfire. 

“What are you doing?” Y/N asked hesitantly. 

“My powers!” Ace exclaimed, balling his hand into a fist and staring at it. 

“What?”

“My devil-fruit abilities… they’re gone.” he said sadly. 

“Of course they are.” Y/N snapped. “You’ve been dead for, what, five years?” 

“Five years?!” Ace repeated. Y/N ignored him and struck the flint together, and a spark lit the fire alight. He tucked his knees beneath his chin and sat close. 

Ace didn’t move. “Can we share?” 

Y/N scowled, shoving Ace away with his gloved hands roughly. Ace staggered, but he gave up and dragged his feet back to where he was sitting before. Alone. 

Chapter Text

Y/N woke up with soot from the campfire all over his face. 

He blinked weakly and sat up, his eyes taking a moment to focus in the harsh sunlight. It was early in the morning, and he’d been awoken by the bright rays. 

Y/N yawned, running a hand over his tangled hair. It was full of sand and seawater. Y/N took in the extent of his injuries — he had scrapes all over his arms and legs, and a cut over his chest. His marine uniform was missing all of its buttons and the marine sigil was half torn off. His cap was long gone, of course. 

Y/N sighed, digging around in his pockets for anything that may have survived the wreck. He only found a handful of sand.

He groaned, leaning back. His hands hit something — a body. He yelped, looking behind him. Ace was sleeping next to him. 

Y/N practically screamed and jumped up, staggering into a bush. In reality, though, Ace looked like a regular man sleeping on the ground, spread-eagled and snoring slightly. 

Y/N stood up, his cheeks pink with embarrassment. How did he not wake up after that? he asked himself. Doesn’t matter… I need food. And I need to bathe… but I need money for both of those things.

Y/N observed his surroundings, squinting into the distance when he saw part of a small shipwreck on the shore. He walked down to the beach, inspecting the wrecked boat, scavenging for something somewhat useful. 

He found many useless things — a regular compass, a soggy map, a broken pencil and a paperweight — but he also found a few useful items. He found two bags of money, each containing about 100,000 berries, and miraculously intact log-pose.

While he searched for anything he may have missed, he heard a voice. “Find anything useful?” 

Y/N jumped, looking up to where he’d heard the voice. Ace was sitting on a tree branch that was overlooking the wreckage, watching him. 

“How long have you been there for?” Y/N asked. 

“A few minutes.” Ace replied. “You’re not a good marine, you know. Even a toddler would’ve heard me climb this tree.” 

Y/N blushed. “I found a log pose and some money. I am going to search the island for anything useful and try to get out of here.” 

“Good plan. I’ll come with you.” Ace replied, dropping onto the sand swiftly. 

“What?” Y/N jumped back on instinct. 

“You’re so jumpy.” Ace laughed. “I need food, Cadet.” 

And a bath, Y/N said in his head. “OK, fine.” 

Ace smiled and followed the nervous Y/N onto the clearing again. They stomped through the thick jungle, with Y/N glancing behind him every now and then, and they found a path. The path led the two into a very small village, with small houses and little restaurants. 

Y/N glanced to his left. He spotted a harbour with a dozen boats, big enough for a few people, floating in the water. 

Ace pinched his arm and Y/N jumped slightly. “I have an idea.” he said. 

Y/N turned around, folding his arms over his chest. “What is it?” 

“I say, if we’re both planning to head to Loguetown, we go together. Work together.” Ace suggested. “I see my brother, you complete your mission — or try to, at least. Win-win, isn’t it?” 

Y/N scowled. “No way! I am not working with a pirate.” he spat. 

“So you’d rather sail the Grand Line alone? With no help? No backup?” Ace taunted, stepping closer. 

Y/N moved back, looking away at one of the boats. No way he’d be able to man it alone… besides, once Ace got his strength back, maybe he’d be able to defend both of them from threats. 

He looked down, sighing in defeat. “OK. A truce, then.” He held out his hand to shake Ace’s. He pulled it back before Ace could shake it. “But once we reach Loguetown, it’s over.” 

“Got it.” Ace went to shake Y/N’s hand, but he pulled back again. 

“And this doesn’t mean that we’re friends,” 

“OK, OK, I get it!” Ace grabbed Y/N’s hand with his grubby one and shook it. “It’s a truce, then.” 

Y/N wiped his hand on his shirt. “Truce.” he agreed after a moment. 

He then pulled one of the bags of money, holding it out to Ace, who snatched it up in an instant. “Food.” he said, grabbing Y/N’s wrist and dragging him towards the town. 

Y/N pulled back. “Absolutely not,” he snapped. “The first thing you will do is bathe and get new clothes, because if you haven’t noticed, you’re covered in dirt and you look like a zombie.”

Ace raises a brow. “You can’t tell me what to do, Cadet.” 

“I’m going to find a boat, and if you’re not clean by the time I see you next, you’re not getting on it.” Y/N hissed firmly. Ace scowled at him. He was a tricky guy to talk to… 

Ace relented, however, and managed to find a clothing store that would let him in. Once his clothes were replaced, he headed for a bathhouse and cleaned himself. But, he also caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror — a huge scar covered his stomach, like he’d been punched right through his torso.

The memory of Marineford flashed before Ace’s eyes, the blood on his hands, feeling the adrenaline ebb away and replace itself with panic and dread.

And Luffy. Poor Luffy, crying, desperate to save him… Ace closed his eyes and ignored the overwhelming thoughts. He didn’t want to think about that day ever again. 

•••

Y/N walked along the pier, inspecting boat after boat, taking into consideration the Grand Line’s dangers. They’d need a huge ship to survive the rough seas, but these boats would have to do for now. 

Y/N spotted a fisherman by a fish shop, inspecting his rod and supplies. He approached. 

“Um, excuse me?” Y/N began. The man turned around. 

“Hello there, young man,” the fisherman said. “What can I do you for, Cadet?” 

“I was wondering if there were any boats here for sail.” Y/N said. “I don’t have a lot of money, though.” 

“How much’ve you got?” the man asked. 

“Only 150,000, sir,” Y/N said. He’d taken some money from Ace’s bag.

“M’fraid that won’t get you much, son,” the man said solemnly. “You have places to go, I assume?” 

“Yeah, I’m headed for Loguetown.” Y/N replied. “Are you sure I can’t find a boat big enough for a couple of people?” 

“Loguetown, eh? You’ve got quite a way to go, son,” the old fisherman rasped as he lit a cigar. 

“Please, sir, I really need a boat,” Y/N pressed. 

“I’d say you need a bath and some food first,” the fisherman chortled, pointing to Y/N’s dirty body and his malnourished frame. 

Y/N glanced down. I should really start to take my own advice, he thought to himself.

“I will come back,” Y/N told the man, hurrying off into the village. 

•••

Y/N found a bathhouse and cleaned himself and dusted off his clothes in record time. He looked as good as new. 

“Now to find a boat,” he said to himself, leaving the bathhouse. But his stomach growled in protest. 

He groaned. He really needed food, but he also needed a boat… well, they aren’t going anywhere tied to the pier. 

Y/N walked down the streets, searching for a decent looking restaurant. He heard a commotion in one of them, and peeked inside, eyebrows raised in curiosity. 

“He just dropped dead!” a man cried. 

“He must be breathing, look!” someone else pointed out. 

“I recognise that tattoo…” 

“What the hell happened to this guy?!” 

He stepped into the restaurant, his stomach dropping. Ace was sitting at the bar top, plates of food surrounding him and meat on the bone in his hand. But his head was on the table, and he seemed to be out cold. 

“Damn it!” Y/N hissed, rushing towards him and pushing through the crowd of confused locals watching him in shock. 

Y/N grabbed Ace’s shoulders (which were exceptionally cleaner than an hour ago), and shook them hard. “Ace! Wake up, you idiot, people are staring! Wake up!” 

“Hey, I know this guy…” a man said. He was huge and burly. He stepped through the crowd. “But he was executed about five years ago.” 

Y/N whipped around, covering Ace’s back with his arms. “You must be thinking of someone else, sir!” he said quickly, laughing nervously. “People don’t just come back to life, do they?” 

The man grunted, shoving Y/N aside and poking the Whitebeard tattoo on Ace’s back. “He was a Whitebeard pirate.” 

“Yes, a long time ago, but he’s not anymore, I assure you,” Y/N interjected, pushing the man’s hands away. 

“And the tattoo on his arm,” the man grabbed Ace by the bicep. “This is Portgas D. Ace.” 

Ace snorted suddenly, and he lifted his head from the table. He yawned. “Oh, was I asleep…?” he mumbled. 

He glanced at the burly man holding onto his arm and frowned. “What’s going on?”

“You’re supposed to be a dead man, that’s what, Fire Fist,” the local man growled. 

“Time to go,” Y/N said quickly, shoving Ace out of his seat, who swiped the huge sack from the floor and started sprinting down the street. Y/N followed, quickly catching up to him. 

“Did you find a boat?” Ace asked over the yelling of the locals as the two turned a sharp corner, with Y/N almost slipping and falling. 

“Nope!” Y/N exclaimed. 

“What?!” 

“I’ll figure it out!” Y/N yelled, running to the old fisherman he’d met before. 

“Sir! Sir, please, I need a boat, I’ll pay you all the money I have, I just need a boat right now!” Y/N blurted out. 

The fisherman glanced at Ace, who was doubled over with his hands on his knees, and hummed, blowing out smoke from his pipe. “Take that one.” he pointed to one of the largest boats, painted in a variety of colours. It was clearly old, but seemed to be in perfect condition. 

“Thank you! What do I owe you?” Y/N asked, glancing behind him at the sounds of the locals shouting for a pirate and a marine. 

“No payment is necessary. Take the boat,” the fisherman said. 

“W-what? No, I have to pay you something!” Y/N stammered in shock. 

“Take the boat, son,” the fisherman said with a solemn nod. 

Y/N hesitated, before breathlessly thanking the man. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” he exclaimed, running to the boat. “I cannot thank you enough, oh, thank you! Come on, Ace!” 

Ace stood up and slung the sack over his shoulder, bowing in thanks to the old man. “Thank you.” he said, before running into the boat. 

Y/N opened the sails and Ace untied it from the pier, and the boat took off. The villagers rounded the corner to see the two fugitives sailing into the distance, and they all swore and cursed at the sea. 

Ace laughed in victory, flopping into the deck in exhaustion. “We made it!” he panted. 

Y/N frowned. “I did most of the work…” he muttered, tying down the sails. He pointed to the canvas sack that Ace had brought onto the boat. “What’s all that?” he asked. 

Ace looked at the bag, sitting up and opening it. Inside was piles of food, water and booze. 

“Wow,” Y/N breathed. 

“Eat something, Cadet, you look like you haven’t eaten for weeks,” Ace said. 

Y/N hesitated, rocking back on his heels. “I’m fine. Now, how to get to Loguetown…?” 

Ace barked out another furious laugh. “Aha, look at this!” he said, fishing something from the bag. He pulled out an eternal pose, set for Loguetown. 

Y/N snatched it back. “Where did you find this?!” he exclaimed. 

“In a shop,” Ace said simply, grabbing a stick of cured meat and biting into it hungrily. 

“I hope you didn’t steal it,” Y/N said, glancing down at Ace nervously. 

“Of course I did,” he replied casually. “Wasn’t gonna pay for it.” 

Y/N rolled his eyes. “Make yourself useful and get behind the wheel. We’re headed port.” 

Ace stood up and did what he was told, all while chewing away at his food. Y/N just watched and waited.