Chapter Text
They were on edge as soon as they saw the Melody on the horizon, shocked to see the ship appear as nothing had happened to warrant a visit from the old man. Jiji didn't visit that often, if Ace had counted right it was about once every couple of years.. In fact, the old man hadn't even seen Sabo before now. So why was it that he was making his way here now , what could have happened for the man to appear again after an absence of so long.
Ace, having told Sabo about his grandfather and the man's insistence of making him a marine. In fact, all Garp ever talked about was how Ace had to become a marine and do good in the world. It didn't take a genius to see that Marines didn't always do good, there were enough to turned to the other side or who were more than willing to ignore the shit going on around them.
Garp and his crew might be one of the good marines, but that's where it ended for now. Most of the other instances they met marines weren't good ones.
Goa Kingdom was a good example, they were willing to do away with everything unwanted, be it belongings or people. No one ever did anything about it, in fact, the marines stationed here were often seen leaving the castle with a large bag full of coins.
If that wasn't enough to be wary of marines, Ace had every intention of making sure they never found out his father's name. There was a reason he used his mother's everywhere, but once he joined the Marines he was certain someone would find out. Once that happened he was doomed.
Garp had made it clear what kind of man Gol D. Roger was believed to have been. He also shared part of what happened to so many other women and children who had been believed to be Roger's. The fact that Ace's mother was able to live and prolong her pregnancy was a miracle. However, even with Ace somewhat in hiding, as soon as the World government found out they would sentence him to dead for not other reason than who his father was.
“What do you think the old man wants?”
Looking at Sabo, Ace shrugged, “Who knows, you never can guess with the old man. Not even Boggard knows what he's up to half the time and this is his right hand. Maybe he had the idea to come and visit or something happened and he wants to make sure we're not involved?”
Sabo chuckles, no doubt thinking back to the stories Ace had told him about his grandfather and the people on the Melody. Garp wasn't that bad of a man, but he interacted with them too little to mean anything. The few interactions they did had were harsh and involved the man 'training' them to become marines and get stronger.
He wanted them, or Ace up until he met Sabo, to be a Marine but never gave him the basics to become one. Leaving him with mountain bandits also didn't help there.
“Let's go and see, if we don't show he'll come find us anyway”, Ace shivered, thinking about those times he didn't go to greet his grandfather.
With slumped shoulders they made their way into Fushia Village, waving at the people they knew and stopping briefly to hug Makino when she appeared, looking to be in a hurry. Ace went ahead, with Sabo following behind him as they approached the harbor.
“Jiji?!”
It wasn't Garp who appeared, but Boggard, who seemed relieved to see him. Mentioning Ace to come onto the ship. Not even blinking twice as Sabo followed him. Then again, this man was used to Garp, so crazy wasn't that odd for him.
“Ace, your Jiji is a bit busy right now, come on, follow me.”
Apprehensive, they followed after Boggard, on edge as Garp wasn't there to greet him. The old man was always there, had something happened to him? Was that why he wasn't there to greet him and come by Dawn Island?
A lot of thoughts raced through his head, from some of the worst scenarios possible until Ace felt like he couldn't breath. That was until Ace heard a sharp crying through the air. It was unlike anything he had ever heard, so when Boggard opened the door to Garp's room Ace didn't know what to think about the baby laying on the large bed. Crying his little heart out for one thing or another.
“It's ok, Luffy, Jiji is here with a bottle.”
They heard him before they saw him, Garp appearing seemingly out of the corner of the room. He was a large man, so missing him wasn't an easy feat. What had happened for this to have happened? Or had Garp been standing there the whole time and had they not seen him until he spoke?
Which is when they noticed that the baby, Luffy, was boxed in by a lot of pillows so he couldn't just crawl out of the bed. It did seem like this wasn't the first time that Garp had done this, his actions were familiar and fast. Not at all uncomfortable or uncoordinated.
Garp settled on the bed and picked up the baby, laying him on his arm, before giving him the bottle. It was clear to see the little guy was famished. Drinking down the bottle which prompted Garp to take a hold of the other one he had prepared.
Once the second bottle was empty, Garp laid the baby over his shoulder and burped him. Cuddling him close and cooing at the little human in his arms as a smile appeared on the baby's face.
“Jiji, who is that?”
Garp blinked, looking up to see Ace and Sabo standing there, a soft smile still present on his face.
“Ace, who is your friend?”
Scowling at his question being answered with a question, Ace sighed, “This is Sabo, he's my brother now.”
It showed that Garp was used to craziness as he didn't even blink, nodding, “I see, welcome to the family, kid.”
Sabo nodded in response, his eyes still on Luffy. Fascinated by the little human in Garp's arms, “It's nice to meet you, sir.”
Garp laughed at that, before glancing back at Ace; looking down at the baby in his arms, he smiled, “This is Luffy, he's my grandson from my no-good revolutionary son. Things... happened, which made Dragon unable to look after him. So I took him, he's going to be your little brother from now on.”
Gaping at the baby, neither Ace or Sabo knew what to say to that. Looking at each other before looking at Garp, “You can't just leave a baby with us!? He needs care and milk and... I don't know how to care for a baby, Jiji!”
It was with a small voice that Ace admitted to that, he didn't like admitting he couldn't do something. But this was another human being, his baby brother even, he couldn't just fuck around and find out with this.
Coming closer, his breath is stolen as he sees big brown eyes looking at him, a smile on the baby face before a small hand wraps around his finger. It's clear that Ace ahd never felt like this, like there was someone out there who would love him unconditionally. He didn't believe he deserved it, but here was a small child, a baby, holding his finger and looking at him as he was the most precious person in the world.
“Hi Luffy, I'm Ace, your big brother.”
Luffy cooed in answer, the sounds he made sounded like the letter A and for once Ace hadn't heard anything better.
Sabo pressed into his side, “Hi Luffy, I'm Sabo, I'm also your big brother.”
Big brown eyes turned to Sabo, before the S started to be spoken out loud. It was adorable to say the least, before a knock on the door sounded. Once it opened, Makino was standing there, “So that's my baby cousin. He looks adorable.”
Garp huffed, puffing up his chest in pride, before turning to Ace and Sabo, “Makino will be there to help you both. She'll take care of all the necessities, all you two need to do is take care of Luffy.”
Sighing, he added, “I don't think I can ask Dadan, she's already going gray from everything Ace put her through.”
Ace grinned at that, the old hag never stopped reminding him what a terror he had been as a baby. Much younger than Luffy was now, when he came into her care, he was certain the woman would turn gray instantly if Garp asked her to take care of Luffy as well. Especially as he was a Monkey D.
They were a special kind of human, ones that could turn chaos to their hand. Much more than other people carrying the D-initial could.
“Jiji, what happened?”
The old man looked away, “My daughter-in-law got into some trouble and wasn't able to take care of Luffy anymore. Additionally, someone in my son's inner circle was a mole, who tried to kill Luffy. He called me, begging me to take my grandson and look over him. As much as I disagree with my son, he's still my boy.”
Another knock on the door had Boggard appearing, calling on Garp as HQ was calling to see where he was. As the man laid Luffy into Makino's arms, he grumbled as he followed his second in command. It left Ace and Sabo with Makino, still looking down at the little baby now part of their unconventional family.
“He's so small.”
Makino laughed, “All babies are this small, Ace, you were once this small as well.”
Flushing at hearing that, Ace still didn't pull his finger out of Luffy's grip. Despite the way the baby was slowly falling asleep, he couldn't help but marvel at this.
“He'll grow so fast, don't worry. I know you were so small when Uncle Garp showed up with you, but look now, you're already ten years old.”
Puffing up his chest, kind of in resemblance to Garp not too long ago, Ace didn't know what to think about that. He knew he was getting older, knew he was ten already. Sabo was the same age as him, after all.
However, that didn't mean that he knew how to handle babies, Luffy was looking so cute right now. But he had heard the kid scream and cry when he was hungry.
“Do... do they always cry as much?”
Giggling, Makino shook her head, “At times, Luffy should start to be able to talk or babble soon enough. Right now though the only way he can communicate is through crying. Don't worry though, you'll be able to distinguish the cries as to what they mean soon enough.”
Ace wasn't really convinced, looking at Sabo showed him his brother also didn't know what to think about this. But they were together and they would figure it out.
It seemed that Makino was of the same thought, as she smiled softly at the two of them. Having them sit down on Garp's bed before placing Luffy in their arms, “Let's start with how to hold a baby. Luffy is old enough that he can support his own neck, but still, you should give as much support as possible to kids. They are curious to a fault and would just tumble out of your arms or off of the seat they are in because they are looking at something.”
Adjusting his hold on Luffy, Ace was careful his grip wasn't too hard. Giving the baby to Sabo as soon as he was certain he knew how to hold Luffy, and Luffy didn't show any sign on discomfort.
“That's good, boys, you're both a natural at this.”
Beaming at her, they were overjoyed to hear that. Wanting to take good care of the precious cargo that was their baby brother now.