Questions: Garp to Luffy

Garp is a hero in the book of the marines. Even then, he's more of a wild card pawn who moves the chess pieces to the World Government's whims. But after...

"Thank you...for loving me!"

He closes his eyes with his hands clasped behind his back. The World Government wasn't worth his family. He just took too long to realize it.

He can almost laugh from the irony of it all. He gave his life to the World Government. In exchange, it's taking what makes his life worth living. Before he can help it, a rumble bellows like a steady hum in his throat, waiting, urging to become something else, to become a wild laugh. His wild laugh, in fact, hasn't rumbled in two years.

Used to his laughter rumbling down the halls, alerting the recruits or signaling to Sengoku that the walking old nightmare was showing up, Garp almost grins over Sengoku's (one) of many nicknames for him.

But... Sengoku isn't his friend, is he?

Sengoku berated Ace about how he 'killed' his mother, Garp knows the boy always blamed himself over that, even if he didn't do anything. No... He can't forgive Sengoku for that. He can't forgive the World Government, let alone the world for...

Taking away his son

Taking away Sabo

Taking away Ace

And the thing that really makes his skin crawl, and his anger boil, it's for...

Taking away Luffy's innocence,

His brother, his helping hand, his...

Sun...

The rumbling rises like a tidal wave in the sea, unbidden and harsh. And like all those sea shanties that sailors sing about the tide taking away their friends and nakama, sad and bitter.

So here, he stands with bitterness pouring out of his throat, and he's all alone...

But he knows it's his fault, knows that he didn't have to follow the government's orders. He stood behind his gilded cage that the World Government offered under their false protection while his son and his grandsons fought the world.

How's your cage now? His laugh builds louder and louder, ringing across the floor and against the walls. He had always wanted to ask a question to his son and his grandsons but his son doesn't contact him anymore. Understandable, that's what you get for waiting too long and turning your back on the only thing… person you had left.

But then a baby boy with wild brown eyes, almost black, and unruly hair who acts just like him (though he remembers thinking this kid just radiates innocence), was handed to him as a promise, as a new start, a redo on what he failed on.

"Take care of my son"

Tears begin to pool in the corners of his eyes and the way he laughs looks like the way it did before. Besides, who would know that the smile on his face and the tears would mean anything else on Garp the Fist? The bitter laughter would give him away, so would the hollow sound of it.

Each and every turn of his idiot grandson's life, he did everything wrong. Worse than the last time with the kid who used to be so kind and hopeful. The kid who is now the cold, stoic, almost silent, most wanted man in the world. The man whose sins now fall to his son with a bright smile and happy-go lucky attitude. A child who just doesn't deserve to see, let alone walk this twisted corrupt world that scum rule.

He got his answer from Ace even if he didn't ask the question. Now, there's only one person left to ask, the person he hasn't seen in two years. Someone who shouldn't want to see him but would because he's family. But the thing that really aches is that Garp knows, just knows his grandson would be happy to see him, and damn doesn't that sting?

The laughter's gone, left without a wave, only an ache and a hollow feeling. Cold tears drip down his face from his laughter and the salty taste is left against his lips. But his hands don't want to wipe this moment away. So instead, he does the one thing he constantly did. He clasps his hands behind his back and stands straight, a habit from his recruit days.

There's one question that has been itching in the back of his mind. The one that really matters is simple, like himself, like his grandson with that light still simmering beneath the surface. He knows people like Luffy don't live long, people who change the world, people who are living and breathing miracles, people that split the sky and make all things bend to their will with just a smile and a name.

But there's never been anyone like Luffy, he's a once in a lifetime special. Gol D. Roger couldn't even compare to the teen. Garp's never been prouder or sadder in his long lifetime with too many bumps, scars, and deaths.

Garp grins. Isn't it about time to pay his grandson a visit? It falters. He'll leave it up to fate. But damn fate if he doesn't get to ask this time! This time, there isn't going to be any hesitation or wasted time. There isn't going to be any distractions or interruptions.

He grins, that insane twitch of lips that makes grown men quiver like babes crying for mom, and makes the strongest of strong doubt his sanity. Isn't it a good thing his son and grandsons inherited it? But the D's and Monkey's were always known for being off their rockers and they're all both, so isn't that such a nice triple-threat? He laughs something easier now almost simple.

He'll wait as long as it takes to ask that question, and he won't die till he does. He wants – no, needs to ask this question that has haunted and itched.

There will be a day when he asks his idiot grandson with a too bright smile and a forgiving heart with too many scars...

"Are you happy?"

Judging from the wanted posters and sightings, he guesses he already has his answer. But it doesn't hurt to ask.

He walks out of the room with hollow hallways, whispering of another time and dusty pictures forgetting an old era. And as he throws open the rusty door, sunlight pours in showing all the dusty photos and torn couches, and broken furniture with mice squeaking in fear of the leaving intruder signaling a 'phew, glad he's gone' squeak, does he know that this era's truly come to an end.

As he walks out into this waiting sunlit world full of sin that's being renovated by this new era called The Worse Generation, does he accept it with a grin and a renewed will, with a question resting on his heart that will one day be uttered from his lips and a destination in mind by the hand of fate.

A/N:

Each chapter beta'd by picklefin & I don't own One Piece

This is going to be a series of one-shots about what One Piece characters want to ask other characters, it's better than it sounds! I take request and reviews are appreciated

-Anea