A/N: I don't have an excuse? Please burn me on a stake? ? I'm a selfish human beiNG-

Starting it off again. Figuring out the plot of this story was deemed too hard for me and I chickened out a bit. Forgot some key points along the way. Picked em up again and proof read it like crazy. Add to the fact that my writing style changed a helluva lot so hey whoops. I've also edited the grammar on Chapter 1-5 so it wouldn't look half as atrocious. Hail and well met. Huzzah. I'm tired but oh so thankful to all of you who've stuck around. I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH. I seriously don't deserve any of you.

Disclaimer: One Piece©Eiichiro Oda

Sabo could hear them talking. The discussion of how to handle him were exchanged, and it was all so clear from behind the dirty wooden door he pressed his ear on.

"-ou can just scare him a little. Sufficient enough to make him... obedient. He's quite the rambunctious child, you see."

"I can only imagine." A click of the tongue and the noise of rustling reached his ears. "...Sir Outlook, this is just a test case so I have to ask again- Have you tried other tactics already? Creepy clowns, Jack-In-A-Box and the like? Your son is a ten year old after all."

Sabo scoffed at the same time his father did and froze. Damn his genes. "Sabo is not that stupid of a child, unfortunately. Things like that barely fazes him anymore. Even threats don't make that much of a difference." The conversation paused as more rustling sounds were made.

"I see." There was some kind of manic glee traced within the tone of that unknown voice and Sabo instinctively tensed. Who was this guy anyway, a doctor? Why, is there something wrong with him? Not really that surprising, given the state of the place he was residing in. Following that thought was a hand brought up to pinch his nose, him remembering that he was in his father's musty old cellar. "Then I guess it's okay for me to break him a little, Sir Outlook?"

Sabo shivered, and it wasn't because of the cold. From the other side of the door, Outlook sighed, and footsteps echoed. A clear indication that the man was walking away. "If you must, Doctor Prise," he drawled boredly, footsteps halting. Sabo could see it vividly in his mind; the way his father would turn around and meet the other's eyes with not the slightest amount of interest- but only a look of genuine insipidity.

"Do whatever the hell you want with him." The slam of the door after that was followed by the uneasy silence that rang loudly in the air.

The first thing Sabo noticed as he entered (was forced into) the cell was the sheer darkness it exuded. The only light present was outside, hung in rows by every cell. He knew he should be glad that there was any light at all, but he can't shake off the thought that it just made the shadows in the corners more prominent. He didn't look back as the pirates locked him down, the sound of the key clicking bouncing off the walls.

"...This place is shit." The blonde raised his hand to scratch at his head. Though the movement was casual, the tone of voice he used was unusually morose, hoarse as if unused- absent of his natural silver tongue. "But you know, it's kinda better than my house."

The humour that was supposed to be there was void, and even Thatch had to frown. "Must be one hell of a shitty house then."

A laugh, and Sabo finally turned round. "You bet it is. I was stuck in there for like, eight years? Haven't felt the sun in a long time."

"Eight years? Damn, you must be joking. It's either that or you're guilt-tripping me right now."

"I'm not trying to, but I'm certainly not joking. So, can you please let me out now? There's no way I can see the sun from here." It was with a dashing smile when he said that, the joker he was before coming back in an instant. That was what Thatch would've thought if he wasn't observant enough. The pompadour haired man bit the inside of his cheek when he saw the other's hand twitch.

What a faker.

Mood flipped, Thatch scoffed. "Nah, no can do." Because even after all that, he was still a commander. "You kept rising all that unnecessary tension on deck, and Marco says no."

"He's not your captain though?"

"Oyaji knows what Marco's doing. He had a bit of an incident with nobles in the past, you see, so he's a bit paranoid. Do me a favour and just keep quiet, yeah? It'll be like you never existed. Marco would be calmer that way."

Sabo bit his lip and ignored the rising panic he had in his heart.

Like I never existed?

"Th- Then why not just kill me? Would be way easier for you." Sabo hated the way he stuttered the moment he connected the memories of the now to his past, when his father used to-

Thatch rose an eyebrow at Sabo's slip in speech, wondering why he sounded scared for a second after all the sass he gave. He put the keys in his pocket. "We don't take lives for granted, blondie. Killing people for the heck of it ain't the golden policy on this ship. Besides, our second division commander was acting all weird, so I wanna know what exactly is happening."

"Second division commander?"

"Ace. Portgas D. Ace? Ring any bells?"

Sabo stayed silent. He didn't really want to think about Ace at the moment, nor the fact that he was second division commander, showing that Ace had been quite busy in life and that he had lived quite the fulfilling one too while Sabo was left to rot in that fancy mansion up the hill, raking in no bounty at all compared to Ace who managed to get his place in the millions, a place where he can call home and he doesn't need me anymore, does he-

"Uh, you okay bud?"

-Fuck.

Sabo tried to calm himself down before Thatch could see what was wrong. "Y-y-eah, I'm... I'm fine." His answer was breathless.

Thatch frowned. "You sure?"

The concern was obvious and Sabo wanted to laugh. It came out as a wheeze however, and for the hundredth time that day, Sabo had to curse his father again. He took a big silent breath, bit his lip- and smiled. "I'm fine as I can be."

And he truly was.

Thatch left the prison on an awkward note. He couldn't really do anything, because as soon as he mentioned Ace, the noble brat simply got quiet and gave him a smile. They talked it out for a few minutes, as if nothing alarming just happened- Talking about the weather in general, so it was without a doubt very awkward. They avoided anything Ace related though, but Thatch knew he had to get it out of him someday. But still...

...how can someone be so fake?

"Marco, you okay there?" Thatch knocked on the Phoenix's door, only to get a groan in reply. A few steps and Thatch knew Marco was walking to the door. Slowly. The door unlocked and opened.

Droopy eyes stared back at him and Thatch couldn't help but frown. "Geez, you look like shit. Didn't think it'd get to you so much- Guess I was wrong, huh?"

"Buzz off Thatch, I'm working, yoi. I don't want your smart lip 'round."

"Yeesh, talk about temper!" Thatch retorted before pushing the door to let himself in anyways. "Don't be like that now, you need some fun in the sun! Go out and do something other than... this!" The fourth division commander gestured to the paperwork on Marco's desk from where he sat on the blonde's bed, and Marco had to grimace.

"Fun in the sun?" Apparently, that was what had caught his attention. Marco shut the door, accepting his fate. "It's night, yoi, in case you didn't know."

The chef rolled his eyes, mouth forming into a grin. "I'm not blind Marco, I know that it is. It's just an expression! Get some fresh air for once, you big bird! Get outside!"

Marco narrowed his eyes then, and he wasn't wrong in sensing something was a bit different about Thatch. He was unusually more upbeat than usual, and his smile was kind of...

"What happened, yoi?"

The smile slipped and Thatch immediately groaned, throwing his arms up and slumping on the bed with a thud. "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Like any other time. So, what's the matter? Someone stole your secret chocolate stash again?"

"Wha-" Marco had to chuckle at Thatch's incredulous expression as the chef almost leaped out of the bed in a familiar frenzy. Thatch looked around, and though unnecessary, slowly whispered his words.

"...Someone took my chocolates?"

"No, yoi, no one did. Good job in stalling time though," Marco moved from his post at the door, and walked to his table to pull out a chair. He smiled when he sat and Thatch felt the need to be proper. He righted himself, comfortably seated on the bed.

Marco looked into his brothers eyes and leaned forward. "What's wrong?"

"It's just... That brat,"

"Which one? There's so many on board, yoi."

Thatch laughed at that, true and genuine, and Marco let himself relax. "Shut up, you bird, we know you love us. But it's not us, it's the noble. He's acting kind of weird."

Marco's gaze hardened, and he locked his fingers together in front of him. "How so?" Thatch rolled his eyes.

"Not in that kind of way. He's being a bit too wary is all." He assured. Marco raised his eyebrow.

"And that's not normal, yoi? This is a pirate ship."

Thatch sighed. "Weirder still. I feel like he's hiding something, you know? And that something has something to do with Ace, of all people. Everytime I bring up our walking firework, he looked almost... unsettled."

"...Huh." Marco knew that already. It was blatantly obvious that they knew each other. The Phoenix hadn't a clue how though, but he felt that the reunion this afternoon was postponed long enough. Though of course, that was a problem in itself...

Marco was roused from his musings by a hand on his shoulder (Thatch wasn't sitting on the bed anymore and Marco idly wondered how tired he was to not feel his brother's presence) and a concerned look from his brother. "Hey," Thatch began, smiling. "I know you don't like the fact that we have a noble on board and all, but he's an alright kid. I've talked to him, I know."

"You've talked to him,"

"Yep. Kid's got the devil's mouth but he's different from the other nobles."

Marco mulled on his words, unconvinced. He saw and met his fair share of nobles, and he have seen a lot of them given his age and long life. They were all the same; narrow minded, spoiled, entitled and selfish. Just like...

"I'd have to be a judge of that myself, yoi."

Thatch sighed. He was getting ahead of himself- Of course Marco wouldn't trust their prisoner just because he said so. "Right," he said. "Other than that he's weird, I don't really have anything else to... report. You gonna hit the hay anytime soon?"

Marco pinched the bridge of his nose and set aside his papers, only to take another batch. "No, yoi. Just a few more-"

A crash rang out.

Thatch and Marco nearly jumped out of their skins, eyes open wide and alert as they look at each other in a mirrored frenzy. Distant shouts filled their ears with panic, and amongst those screams was a single voice they both know.

"YOU WHAT?!"

Marco and Thatch were already out of the room. They ran to the deck where they left Ace sleeping, thanking deities for the fact that the night was still cold; an indication that Ace didn't use his powers. When they stepped on to the deck though, they knew something was wrong.

Marco went forward and grabbed Ace's arm, making the fire user let go of the collar of the crewmate he was holding. "Ace, what do you think you're doing?"

"What do I think I'm doing? What do you think you're doing?" His voice was nothing short of angry when he pushed Marco away, "I was asleep for just a few hours and- And you guys locked him up!"

Marco knew who he was talking about in an instant. In some kind of a placating gesture, the phoenix held his hands up and tried to reason with his brother. "We have to, yoi, he's a noble."

Something in Ace just snapped. He had a confused look on his face that gradually morphed into that of anger, and facing the cold exterior of Marco the Phoenix he wasn't scared to bare his teeth.

"You locked him up because he's a noble? Just for- What the fuck, Marco," Ace went toe to toe with him then, meeting his eyes with the most furious glare he could muster. Marco didn't back down because he thought he was right. "I thought you were better than this."

"I see nothing wrong in what I've done, yoi, it's routine for people like them." Marco responded coolly. Despite that though, he felt his resolve wavering a bit. Ace never looked at him with such disappointment and repulse before. He almost felt bad for putting the noble in his place. "You're the one who brought him here, Ace. You should've known."

"Yeah," Marco stepped back when Ace pushed him aside without so much as looking at him as he hurriedly walked past. Fury still coiled itself in the air however, Ace in the middle of it all as he tightened his fist. "Should've known I can't trust anyone after all." His feet led him to only one direction; the gaols of the Moby Dick.

"Damn it," Thatch's voice pierced through the silence that followed instantly after, and Marco didn't cast him a glance but the shift in his footing indicated that he was aware of him. "There he goes. Why the heck didn't you let him meet him though?"

"I didn't. Ace just woke up. Would've directed him straight to the darn noble but we've got ourselves a firecracker instead." Marco clicked his tongue, a bit restless. Blue flames licked his shoulders almost in a calming gesture and he turned heels. "Check up on Ace, yoi. Don't let him open the cell if possible."

"Wha-Why?"

Thatch was the one who questioned him again and the Phoenix had to sigh. "Noble kid might turn on him, yoi. It's easy to betray people these days."

"He's an alright kid though-"

"We thought Akbi was alright too, and look what happened."

The deck sounded more silent than usual. Thatch pulled on a frown, looking more concerned than offended at being snarled at as Marco's fire died down. The blonde put both trembling hands to his face and dragged them down, refusing himself the urge to groan. "I... Sorry, Thatch. I'm a bit winded."

Thatch pursed his lips as if he didn't believe that was all that was up, but he placed a reassuring hand on Marco's shoulder anyways. "It's fine. Old wounds still scar, brother. I get it." The phoenix could hear footsteps around him, notifying him that everyone's off and away again. Another pat from Thatch and he was gone too.

Marco was left alone standing on deck and the only thing keeping him warm was the ghost of his brother's touch.

The only reason Ace knew of Whitebeard's gaols was because of an incident in the past. A Marine got a little cocky and managed to hurt a member of the third division, so Oyaji left Jozu to deal with him. It was a some kind of rite; Those who have done wrong to the family would be appropriately punished. The Marine never looked the same afterwards when they threw him overboard. Ace would've felt bad but he was a pirate and so were the rest of Whitebeard's sons. Their heart would harden if someone were to hurt one of their own and that was exactly what happened.

This though, this hardened his heart in a different way because it wasn't right.

Sabo wasn't in there because he hurt someone. He was there because he was a noble, something he didn't even want to be. Ace saw where Marco was coming from though, but the Phoenix did not understand that Sabo's different. Ace knew that Sabo's different though and he assured this to himself with a tinge of doubt. His mind was clouded with rage for his so called brothers so he didn't really think of the possible instance of if he was wrong all along and the maybes of Sabo not being himself because people do change over time.

All he cared about was getting Sabo out of his crew's prison because he refused to let Sabo stew in the damn thing and think that Ace had any part in his capture.

Capture. Like Sabo was their prisoner.

Ace recognized the injustice and his blood boiled. He didn't think- He was so sure that-

He didn't think even Oyaji would allow this to happen.

The hallway brightened with a flick of his wrist, when fire engulfed his hand and made light of the cells on his left. He didn't need it to be honest, the place was bright enough for him to see. If anything, it was there simply to reassure him.

He felt the dusty walls as he made his descent down the stairs. His shoes weren't exactly quiet in the silence of the room, the soft clacks of soles meeting wood loud enough to bounce off the walls. Ace's eyes wandered to places his fire kept shedding light on, but to anyone, it was clear he was getting distracted.

Then, he stopped. As if giving someone a wide berth, he stepped back, sparks flying from the fire on his hand. In the third cell, blue eyes stared up in awe at the orange display, the glow casted on Ace setting up an ephermal atmosphere.

"Sabo?" Ace uttered, a solitary voice within the gaols. The commander took in the sight of his brother, with his disheveled blonde hair and his coat still too clean and pristine. He looked spotless, unblemished, and untarnished; The picture perfect image of a noble's golden boy. Ace didn't know what to feel about that.

"...Ace," the blonde responded. His eyes were wide in surprise, and his shoulders were tense in apprehension.

Ace felt so so nervous suddenly. Gone was his blistering anger and in its place, something cold froze whatever statement he had to say next. It was as if a block of ice had dropped down into his stomach, bringing him down to reality. He looked at Sabo and saw the brother he spent days mourning.

Ace can't speak suddenly.

But it didn't really matter because Sabo did it for him. "Ace, I-"

-am a stranger, don't know you anymore, am not your brother-

"-I'm so sorry."

Huh?

Ace's fire flickered a little as Ace was startled into remembering that he needed to breathe. His heart still hurt though, wrung into a mess of emotions and it must've showed on his face because Sabo gripped the bars of his cell to prattle on.

"I-I was stupid, Ace, I know you don't like me now- Hell, you probably hate me enough to put me in here and I don't expect you to forgive me for what I did so many years ago. You can kill me or do whatever the hell you want with me but, please, just know that I truly do regret what happened. And I'm sorry it turned out this way as well. I'm sorry I left you and I apologise for-"

"Shut up."

Sabo clamped his mouth shut. The apprehension that rested in his shoulders seemed more obvious and Sabo looked at him like he was going to beat him up or something. And god, were those tears? Ace doesn't know how to deal with this so he extinguished the fire on his hand and ran fingers through his hair, pulling on strands as if it'll change something.

But no. Sabo's in front of him, it was horrifyingly quiet, and the place was dimmer now that he's gotten over his shock. Sabo's in front of him, he repeated again, this time with some kind of forced affirmation as he tugged at his hair hard for the last time.

Damn it.

Damn it.

"Even when you're apologising, you sound so goddamned pompous." Ace lifted his head, expression indescribable but bordering onto some sort of concern. "Did they really take that much out of you, Sabo?"

"Ace..."

"And what the hell are you sorry for?" Ace tightened his fists and looked to the ground. "If I hadn't been so pigheaded and stupid back then, I would've... I could've saved you! But I didn't and assumed you were happy there instead!" He covered his face to hide his shame, tears not there but his eyes not completely dry. "You've been with them all this time, weren't you, Sabo? And I didn't come for you,"

"Ace, that's not-"

"Not what? It's true, isn't it? In the end, I can't save anyone-"

"Hey-"

"And I want to blame you but that's just selfish of me-"

"Ace!"

"-nothing but a failure, that's what I- Ghk!"

Ace's hand went to his throat as he looked down at the object that hit him. A shoe lay innocently on the ground and when Ace shifted his gaze at Sabo, he noted that the blonde had his arm out post-throwing position. He also had a fairly livid expression on his face, like Ace had done something wrong.

Whitebeard's second division commander, the notorious Fire Fist Ace, blinked incredulously at the man inside the cell. "...Did you just-"

"Throw a shoe at you? Yes. Yes, I did. To stop you from moping because this place could not be anymore dreary. Also," He leveled Ace a stare that screamed a thousand year worth of scolding, and Ace thought back of the time when they were young and in a forest, with Sabo berating him of something or the other. "Everything you just said was false, false, and false. Nothing was your fault, and my apology was so horribly rehearsed, Ace. I've been thinking about it 30 minutes ago and god forbid me from being formal and pompous."

Sabo pinched the bridge of his nose, subsequently ridding himself of any tears in his eyes. The apprehension was gone now, replaced by eased familiarity and Sabo's figure sagged like lethargy just caught up to him. He brought his knees to his chest and wiped his face, looking absolutely drained. "Honestly, you have absolutely no tact..."

Like his brother (?), Ace sunk to the floor with his back against the wall, eyes still not leaving Sabo. A chuckle escaped him somewhat, a quiet huff of air that spoke of his relief at the fact that Sabo hadn't really changed at all, and Ace listened to the adrenaline that pumped his veins, his ears ringing with thumps. He let the moment pass before he dared to open his mouth.

"It wasn't your fault."

"...Wasn't yours either. It wasn't anyone's."

"I'm still sorry though." There was something bitter lacing Ace words, clinging onto them like a ghosts.

Sabo feigned absent mindedness and twirled a lock of his golden hair. "Me too."

"..."

"...Ace?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we still...?"

Ace knew what was asked. He marvelled at the fact that their minds were still on the same wavelength, and he relished the fact that yes, this is the boy he used to share childhoods and fight together with. A warm feeling filled his chest. "If you want us to be."

The pause after that was nothing to be feared. Ace knew of Sabo's tendency to pick his words carefully before speaking. A single "Thanks," was uttered before they fell into the same silence as before, and Sabo piped up not long after that.

"So... About the cell?" The blonde knocked on the steel bars and Ace blinked as the noise resonated through the hallway.

"Oh," he said, dumbfounded. "Right."

A/N: ...And just outside the trapdoor, Thatch tries not to cry. jk. maybe.

I won't promise I'll update a lot but I do promise to not drop this story. I've got plans, it's just that processing them is too darn hard without help.

Again, I love you all. Ciao!