Chapter 75

The battlefield stretched endlessly before him, covered with a vast expanse of ruin and chaos under the blood curdling sky. Nika was sprinting, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps; his body tense, moving on instinct in a place that was both familiar and completely foreign. He didn't know why he was running or even where he was headed to but something deep inside him screamed for him to keep moving, keep running, keep fighting. He needed to, even if he didn't know what he was running toward or from.

His skin, which was usually warm toned, was currently ghostly pale as his flaming cloudy hair that rolled above him, whipping around his face and wrapping him in a cold yet warm blanket. His scarlet red eyes were wide, searching for any hint of what was happening but all he could see were blurred faces, hiding behind veils of fog and shadow. The creatures around him were completely faceless soldiers who were crying out in agony and fury, despair and mocking, hopelessness and victory; filling the air with chaos.

Nika's fists clenched, his rage simmering, an anger which he couldn't fully understand but couldn't ignore. His fists swung with an almost desperate fury, striking down the creatures blocking his path, daring to cross and stop him. He couldn't make out any of them, but each of his blows were charged with anger and urgency. But why was he even angry? Who were his enemies? What was even happening?

Nika didn't know any of it, no matter how many foes he crushed, his rage only grew, clawing at him from inside, making his heartbeat drum louder than the cries of everyone in the battlefield. He wasn't sure what he was fighting for, he only knew that he had to keep going... had to find something or someone.

But then a familiar voice rose above the clamor, filled with worry and urgency. "NIKA, WATCH OUT!"

Nika spun around, his heart racing. He needed to see him but just then a blinding flash of energy erupted, engulfing everything and shifting the horizon, color and shapes, melting into something more softer, dimmer yet too painful. The cries and smoke had vanished, leaving him and his heart to feel immense sadness. His heartbeat beat louder and louder till it was the only thing he could hear.

In an instant, his hands were trembling as he felt the weight in them, his heart quivering and eyes glimmering with unshed tears at the sight he was witnessing. He was kneeling down, not sure if he could stand on his legs as in his arms lay Halad, his beloved big brother, the Sky God.

Halad's face was beautiful and wise like always, framed by long, flowing silvery hair, which were a cascade reminiscent of the thunderclouds. His eyes, a mesmerizing blend of gray and blue, embodying both storm and sky, clear and tranquil like dawn, were dimming now. The mischievous sparkle of life fading as he looked up at him with a mix of regret yet satisfaction.

The 'death' of Halad shouldn't be hurting him, as Nika knew that Halad would be back, his soul would be reincarnated and he would get his brother back and even get to play with him in his childish form... But this was somehow different. Everything in Nika told him that this would be the last he would be ever seeing of Halad.

"Please.. Don't..!" Nika choked out, his voice cracking, his throat tight as he held Halad's body closer to him, not willing to let his brother go. He didn't want to.

"Nika, m-my lil brother..!" Halad whispered, his voice weak but full of warmth as he rested his hands lightly on Nika's arms and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I didn't want you to be burdened with this.."

"No!" Nika's heart wrenched with guilt, his own hands pressing down as if he could keep Halad here with him but he could see how Halad was... turning fainter and fainter with each passing moment. "It sh-should've been m-me..! Please.. don't l-leave me..!"

"Shh, it's okay. I'm happy.. you're okay.. and safe." Halad's smile never faltered, even as his trembling hands brushed over Nika's cheeks, wiping his tears. "..I don't regret it. My power.. my duty... it is yours now, Nika. You will guide the skies as I did... for us both, won't you.. lil brother..?"

Nika's breath caught in his throat, the weight of reality and realization finally striking him full force. Halad had taken the blow meant for him—an attack meant to destroy a God's essence, not just body but the very soul, leaving nothing to reincarnate or salvage. An attack that would destroy the very fabric of a God's being. Halad had sacrificed himself, allowing Nika to remain untainted by those wicked grasps.

Halad's hand slipped to Nika's shoulder, his bluish gray eyes dimming with each word. "This way.. you will never be alone. I will be with you, in every gust of wind.. every storm, every day.. and night. My powers will keep you from feeling lost, from ever feeling alone again and tie you to this very planet like you.. always wanted." Halad chuckled softly, his chest rumbling as he coughed up blood.

Nika's eyes welled up with new found tears as Halad pressed his hand over his heart, the remnants of his power surging into Nika's very being. The warm and vast energy like the summer sky, coursed through Nika, blending with his own strength, spreading warmth within him. Nika's scarlet eyes shifted to make space for gray and blue, as he felt the weight of Halad's domains—sky, weather, storms—flow into him.

"Halad, p-please.. don't go. Don't l-leave me." Nika's voice was barely more than a whisper, his face streaked with tears he couldn't hold back.

But Halad's smile only softened further, as he pulled Nika for one last hug. "The world.. it is yours to protect now, Nika. Be strong, for both of us. And remember... you w-will a-always.. have a piece of me with you.. I-I'm glad t-to.. see y-you safe in m-my final mo-moments.." And with that, Halad's form dissolved, scattering into thousands of glowing particles, swirling around Nika like a final embrace.

"No no no no no NO NO NONONONONONONO!NO!NO!" Nika cried, reaching out, desperately to hold onto even a fragment of Halad's presence but it all slipped through his fingers, merging with the winds that now whipped through the empty battlefield.

.

Luffy jolted awake, his heart hammering against his ribs as the nightmare lingered like a shadow, wrapping tightly around his mind. For a moment, he felt trapped between the worlds—the real and the imagined—but the soft snores of others and his own frantic heartbeat brought him back to the room—infirmary—and to reality. He could feel them—his crew, Ace, Sabo and Bonney—all resting, their exhaustion clear as a bright day with their every breath. They had all fought so hard, been through too much.. just because he wanted them to fight without him. For him.

Luffy felt a sob rise in his throat but he pressed his trembling hands over his mouth, forcing the sound back down. He can't wake anyone. He can't let them see him all weak and fragile anymore. He can't wail here. But the urge to break down, to cry out, to shout and scream out due to the death of.. It was too overwhelming. It hurt and he knew he couldn't hold down the dam for too long. He couldn't stay here. Not here, not where they'd see him shatter and break down.

Moving carefully and silently, he slipped from the bed, careful to avoid making even the slightest sound. He slipped out of the room and made his way up through the silent palace, each step heavy with the new reality crashing in his soul. He had to get out. He needed to breathe, to be somewhere without walls or people, where no one could witness his grief.

Luffy made his way up through the quiet palace, guided by the gentle beckoning of the winds, wrapping around him, as he wiped his own tears and tried his best to keep himself quiet. His bare feet threaded through the corridors, climbing the palace steps towards the open air, until he reached the very top, under the endless, dark, night sky, filled with stars like scattered jewels.

Luffy barely noticed the beauty of the night sky, his gaze drifting to his hands, which were shaking and ghostly pale as that day under the moonlight. His knuckles were white, as he clenched them too hard, the memories of his nightmare pulsing painfully throughout his mind. Halad's voice, clear yet weak, warning him.. holding him.. even in his...

With a choke sob, he slammed his fist into the stone ledge beside him, a sharp crack echoing as the stone shattered under his knuckles. Thunder rumbled above, clouds threatening to clash with each, and the winds picked up their pace, mirroring the storm raging within him. He hadn't even noticed the cracking energy in his hands until he saw it sparking, flaring wildly as his emotions slipped past his control.

"Halad.." He whispered, his voice a fragile, broken plea as the sky lit with distant flashes of lightning. Hot tears traced down his eyes, his heart weeping with the pitter patter of the raindrops which tried to wash them away. "I-I'm so so-sorry.." He was back there... in that final, brutal moment, desperately trying to hold onto Halad's fleeting presence.

Luffy's vision blurred as he sank to his knees, clutching at his chest, feeling the weight of guilt like a crushing tide. Memories of the time, of every instance, he had tried to reach out to his brother, to talk to him, unknowing of what had occurred, and even going as far as refusing to acknowledge the quiet cues of his other siblings whenever he asked about Halad. It all flooded back to him, making him feel terrible.

The winds were growing restless, howling around him in a violent swirl as his grief laid open for nature to witness.

"I.. I'm sorry." Luffy whimpered. "For all the times I didn't listen. For ignoring the sorrow of the winds.. and the others. I-I never thought.." His voice tailed off, breaking as he struggled to contain his tears and flood of memories.

It had all happened because he was.. distracted, angry and careless, not seeing the danger aimed right at him.

"W-Why..?" Luffy quivered, his whole body racking with uncontrollable sobs that wrecked out of his throat, his arms hugging himself as his eyes clenched shut. "W-Why.. Ha-Halad..?" It should have been him. It was all his fault-

"Shh... don't cry, lil' brother. I don't like seeing tears in your eyes."

"Halad?!" Luffy's glimmering eyes instantly snapped open, grey and blue ringed around his red and golden irises, desperately looking for the source of the voice. He knew it was his heart and soul, playing back the memories of Halad comforting him, accompanied with the winds that were encompassing him with an old, familiar hug. It felt too surreal yet he knew that the reality was different... That the world was devoid of.. Halad. But the words replaying in his mind were the truth.

Halad hated to see him cry, he hated to see him sad.

"I-I'm sorry." Luffy whispered to the night, his voice barely audible as he wiped his tears and clenched his fists. He took a shaky breath, feeling the winds ruffle his hair gently. It almost felt like Halad himself brushing them along with his tears. Luffy swallowed hard, the last of his tears falling as he looked to the sky with a determination held tight in his soul. He'd protect them all. His friends, his family. He wouldn't lose anyone else because of his mistakes.

Drawing a deep breath, Luffy finally managed a shaky, tear stained smile, as he gazed up to the night sky. "I promise Halad, I'll be strong.. and won't let anyone else d-die."

The storm above quieted, and the clouds parted their ways allowing moonlight to spill down upon him. The winds whistled happily, singing a gentle hum as he leaned back on the cold stone, his exhaustion catching up with him and allowing his heavy eyes to drift shut. His breath became steady, finally calming down as the winds softly whispered one last message from Halad before Luffy fell into a deep, dreamless sleep under the protective watch of the stars, sky and winds.

"You are not alone. I'd never leave you to face the world on your own."

.

As the sun just barely peeked over the horizon, Luffy was already up and moving quietly through the palace halls with his arms full of bags and crates overflowing with fresh ingredients he had managed to gather before anyone else stirred awake. He was following the Haki signature of the king with a determined look.

With a wide, eager grin, Luffy knocked on King Cobra's big door, causing a sleepy guard to open it and blink in confusion at the sight of Luffy and the pile of raw food in his arms.

"Uh, may I help you?" The guard asked, trying to hold back a yawn.

"I need to talk to the king!" Luffy said, his voice barely above a whisper, but his grin was so wide it practically gleamed.

The baffled guard reentered the room and returned with a somewhat drowsy King Cobra, who was adjusting his robe as he took in the sight of Luffy with a curious smile. Luffy's face lit up even more, and he immediately presented the stack of ingredients with a wide, hopeful grin.

"What is all this..?" Cobra questioned uncertainly, as he rubbed his drowsy eyes and noticed the impressive collection of ingredients piled in the young teen's arms.

"These are for breakfast!" Luffy declared cheerfully, dumping the ingredients with a gentle nonchalance on the ground. "I want to thank everyone for fighting so hard so I wanted to cook everyone's favorite meals for them! But the last time I cooked, Ace and Sabo refused to have a bite of it... and I got banned from the kitchen by Dad and Kuma-san... so you have to help me!"

The king, though bewildered at the rumble of words, chuckled, grasping exactly what would have happened for the teen to be banned from the kitchen. But there was another thought which struck his drowsy mind: the wordings of the teen. They clearly showed that the teen has some connections with Kuma-san, which might suggest that he has connections with the revolutionary army. But that was also clear the previous day when Kuma-san was keeping a close worried eye on the teen and knew about him being Cyra.

"Well, Luffy," Cobra started, ignoring his thoughts and realizations, as his hands stroked his beard thoughtfully, masking the little smile tugging at his lips. "I don't know much about cooking either but I think I know just the person who can help." With that, he led Luffy to the bustling palace kitchen, where Terracotta, Igaram's wife and the palace's head chef, was starting preparations for breakfast.

Luffy was quick to shove the ingredients to the head chef, excitedly bouncing on his toes as he listed everyone's favorite dishes to her.

"Oh my! You collected quite a rare and wide variety of ingredients." Terracotta awed, her eyes wide as she recognized some of the ingredients to be not even available in Alabasta, like the fruits which only grow in Autumn islands, the sea king meat, and many others. A part of her wondered how the young teen got his hands on them.

"I want to make sure everyone has something special to eat after yesterday's hard work!" Luffy grinned brightly.

"How thoughtful! I will be honored to make this feast." Terracotta patted Luffy's shoulder before quickly setting the kitchen staff to work and guiding them as they began chopping, cooking and stirring up the massive array of meals.

While the crew was still sleeping, the delicious smell of cooking soon started to waft through the palace halls, stirring them awake one by one, only to be led to the dinning hall by the guards or maids stationed just outside the room for security. Ace and Sabo were the first to rise up, followed closely by Bonney, each of them practically floating towards the scent which were calling them, leading them to a long table which was being set up with platters of food which included their favorites as well.

Everyone was soon to join in the dining room, a look of surprise and gratitude flashing on their faces as they were guided to their seats. The maids were darting in and out of the kitchen, each carrying dish after dish, each one of them more tempting than the last while the palace guards looked on in a wary amazement at the sheer amount of the food being brought out.

When everyone was finally seated, the doors opened and Luffy came in with a proud expression on his face and a big smile on his face. He surveyed everyone with his eyes, checking their injuries and noticing how happy each one of them looked at the sight of their own favorite dishes.

"Everyone!" Luffy clapped his hands joyfully, garnering attention to himself. "Thanks for all of your hard work!" He announced, practically bouncing with excitement. "Eat as much as you want. This is a celebration for everyone!" He spoke, lifting a glass with sake in his hand, leading everyone to the celebrations and cheers.

"KANPAI!" Everyone cheered, drowning their respective sake, except for Bonney and Chopper who just tasted a bit before placing the glasses back, and finally digging into the food with enthusiasm and.. urgency.

"Eat as fast as you can before the food disappears!" Usopp warned the king, seeing how he was shocked and bewildered at them for stuffing their faces as fast as they could. He couldn't blame him, considering he knew nothing about how the food battle can ensue when it involves Luffy. But right now on the table were Ace, Sabo and Bonney too. Having witnessed the way the siblings eat in their two days journey together Usopp can for sure as hell say that if anyone gets between them and doesn't protect their food, they are going to be hungry.

"Don't worry, there's still plenty left." King Cobra spoke with a sweatdrop, witnessing the sight of stretchy limbs sneaking food from other plates, only to get stabbed by forks or get swatted.

The feast, renamed as the chaos which was occurring, was truly something out of horror books for the guards who were infuriated at the shouts, indecency of their diners, not to mention how a few of them were standing ON the table to snatch their food back from the hands stealing them.

"Oi, Luffy! You took that from my plate!" Sanji was the one who shouted half heartedly wanting the meat back from Luffy who stole it from his plate, but it was in vain as Luffy was quick to stuff it in his mouth with a giggle. Sanji discretely smiled as he had known that Luffy would do this and hence had hid vegetables in the meat discreetly.

Undeterred, Luffy continued reaching for food, stretching his arm all the way across the table to snag a particularly large piece of meat. Ace and Sabo noticed and immediately tried to intercept him, laughing as they turned it into a playful wrestling match over the food. Bonney, catching on, quickly snatched the meat for herself, grinning as she held it above her head in triumph.

Ace groaned. "Bonney, not fair!" he laughed, playfully pulling her into a headlock as Sabo joined in, making the whole table burst into laughter.

Across the table, King Cobra watched the chaotic but joyful scene with awe and fascination after his bewilderment and shock subsided. He chuckled to himself, his eyes falling on Luffy, who barely looked older than thirteen or fourteen, was stuffing his face eagerly. But with years of experience, he can see that the kid was not eating his fill, allowing his friends to swat or stab his hand, when he can easily make his way out and get the food he was aiming for. He could see the way the teen was being considerate for everyone.

... But it shouldn't be possible, right? With Luffy being 'Red Maniac' Cyra and one of the members of the feared 3C's, shouldn't he be more cruel and gruesome? Isn't Cyra's name and fame always shrouded with fear, destruction and mystery? Yet, here was the teen, his eyes sparkling with warmth, humor and playfulness, laughing like a kid without a care in the world. Cobra was truly struggling to associate or even relate such a cheerful, reckless kid to the same person the world painted as a terrifying enigma.

Moreover, the words which Cyra or Luffy had told to Nico Robin stuck him. The knowledge which he showed and knew, far surpassing his age and mind, was terrifying and was indeed destructive if it fell on wrong hands. But he doubted if the teen would ever be one of the suspects to know the knowledge which no one might know in the entire world. He has several questions which he would like to ask Luffy himself! The meaning of the letter D which they both shared and the importance of the poneglyph which was Alabasta's royal family's duty to protect.

For a brief moment Cobra saw Luffy's eyes flicker to him, a small smile stretching across his features as he won the turkey which he was playfully fighting for with his brothers. It was only for a brief moment until Luffy's eyes darted towards Usopp, with a pout on his face, as a new banter started. In that short moment, Cobra felt as if the teen somehow knew.. what he was thinking.. but it wasn't possible, right? It has to be his brain refusing to not link the image of Cyra with Strawhat Luffy..! But Cobra knew that in reality and to those close to Cyra or Luffy, he was just a kid full of life and love, radiating like a sun in even the darkest times.

As the chaos unfolded, the mails moved swiftly, bringing in additional trays and dishes, replacing them with the empty ones, to keep up with everyone's appetites. They were especially bewildered to see how fast the food was vanishing from Luffy, Ace, Sabo and Bonney's plates. The maids exchanged amused and determined glances, trying their best to keep up with everything, and ignored the still offended glances of some of the guards who were still annoyed at their guests.

At the head of the table, Vivi laughed as she shared a dish with Nami, both of them amused by their friends' unbridled enthusiasm. Zoro muttered something about needing more sake, even though he had already finished two barrels already, while Usopp animatedly gave Chopper a lesson on how to keep his food secure from the grabby hands of Luffy.

Kuma, who was sitting beside Bonney, holding his plate protectively against the stray hands and making sure that the self-proclaimed siblings don't really break into an all-out-food-fight, glanced over at Cobra and gave a polite smile. "Apologies for their behavior, Your Majesty." He spoke with a warm, nervous smile. "They're all.. lively to say the least." He was kinda embarrassed how everyone on the table, except the king and him, were acting as people not having seen food for ages, but everyone's happiness and enthusiasm was truly warming his heart.

"No need to apologize Kuma-san." Cobra replied with a warm smile, as he leaned on his hand to observe the commotion. It was indeed a lively one, spreading joy. Also, it has been too long since the palace had been filled with so much laughter.

Kuma smiled in return to Cobra's answer and continued with the meal, leading Cobra's mind to wander once again. The government's stories had painted Kuma as a 'Tyrant', but none of the actions of the man had suggested any violence since yesterday till now. In contrast to Kuma's terrifying stature and stoic face most of the time, Cobra could tell that he was serene and too gentle. Cobra wondered if the government's tales were merely an exaggeration or perhaps there were layers of Kuma's story which even the government didn't know.. or were hiding, not letting the public know.

Turning his attention to Sabo, Cobra recognized the blonde haired man from Vivi's letters, who had helped her in making plans. He was the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, an organization often branded as dangerous and treacherous, to which Kuma also belonged and perhaps his daughter too. But looking at them right now, laughing freely and enjoying the day.. and how they had helped in saving his country and had given a hand to his daughter, it was hard to imagine them as an enemy to the world. Perhaps there was more to the Revolutionary Army's cause than the government admitted. It was possible, after all, the government and the Revolutionary Army were enemies.

And then there was 'Fire Fist' Ace, who has been rumored to have strong connections with the 3C's and formerly with the Whitebeards. Considering Luffy being Cyra, the connection of Fire Fist with the 3C's were believable to him but the news about Ace's betrayal to the Whitebeards' didn't make any sense to him. Especially seeing how he was cherishing his siblings and even letting them snatch food from his plate, it was truly hard to believe Fire Fist as a man who would use a bond of friendship to later strike the Whitebeard Pirates from within. The speculations of Morgan on how Fire Fist was waiting for the perfect time to weaken the Whitebeards by feigning alliance truly sounded wild and crazy right now.

Cobra would have scolded himself for making speculations on the pirates and revolutionaries solely based on how they were behaving right now. But Cobra knew that food is a way to reveal a person's true personality, especially when they are deeply passionate about a particular food or when presented with unfamiliar culinary experiences as it can trigger genuine reactions and behaviors that might be hidden under their usual facade. That's why Cobra knew that none of the people sitting with him on the table weren't genuinely criminals at heart.

... But that meant that the government was deliberately obscuring the truth, which wouldn't be unthinkable especially after yesterday. He still wondered why the government would ban people from learning about the true history of the world? Why would they put a bounty on a child, only 8 years old, only for knowing a language long lost to the world, which would help in deciphering the history?! Moreover, Morgan truly was high up making crazy theories based on almost nothing. Cobra's chest felt heavy at that. Perhaps, it wasn't just the world's 'criminals' he should be cautious of, but also the voices that claimed to know them the best.

By the time the food from the table finally disappeared and everyone's stomach was filled, new antics were already on move. Starting with Usopp's performance of balancing several stacks of plates on his nose, Chopper with chopsticks deliberately stuck between his nose and mouth, Luffy and Bonney dancing on the table, and peals of laughter and clapping from the others. Even the palace guards were unable to control their laughter, as they burst out laughing with everyone at their savior's and country's heroes' antics.

But that wasn't the end of the joyful day as the feast was soon followed by an exuberant bathhouse, where every one of them got to relax their tired bodies, laughing and splashing each other with warm waters.

Cobra, sitting among the other occupants in the male section of the bathhouse, felt himself smiling with contentment. He watched as Luffy splashed his brothers and friends, grinning ear to ear, his innocence and joy visible for everyone to see.

"Thank you," Cobra spoke softly, bowing his head, leading the whole room to fall silent.

"Whoa, whoa. Is it alright for a king to do somethin' like that?" Zoro muttered, his eyes narrowing as he took in the king's solemn posture.

"This is a grave act, your highness..! A king should not lower his head to others!" Igaram insisted, alarmed at the sudden words and the posture of the king. It was more alarming than a moment ago, where the king had told the perverts where the women's baths were once asked.

Cobra, in turn, shook his head, his eyes lifting to meet theirs. "Igaram, rank is worn above one's clothing. But here, in this bath, there is no such thing as a naked king." Cobra argued calmly, his lips forming a soft smile. "As a father and a resident of this land, I'd like to express my gratitude."

The weight of Cobra's words hung in the air, and Luffy's playful expression softened as he listened like the others. It wasn't a title speaking to them but a grateful heart, and even the dumbest ones gathered there seemed to understand that.

"Thank you. Thank you, everyone."

Luffy laughed warmly, his voice breaking the warm, comfortable silence which had followed . "It's no big deal, old man!"

Across the room, the others nodded, agreeing with Luffy.

.

The group tried to stay out of the eyes of the marines who were stationed outside the palace, waiting for a chance to capture any of the pirates or revolutionaries gathered inside. But due to the royal guards stationed outside the palace, staying stubborn on their false claim that no criminals were inside the palace, the marines were not allowed entry, even when the marines saw some of them talking casually in plain sight.

"Hey, Lu! 'Bo! Bonney!" Ace called out, spotting his siblings near the palace. He ran towards them, ignoring the startled looks from the marines he passed by, perhaps deliberately walking a little too close to tease them. "I found Deuce." He said with a grin, giving his brothers a wave. "We will be heading out soon."

"You came to say goodbye?" Bonney asked, her expression softening but tinged with a hint of sadness at the thought of their impending separation. But it wasn't like they wouldn't meet again or stay in touch, but parting ways were never easy.

"Yep!" Ace's grin widened. "The sea's calling and I have got a traitor to find!" His expression darkened for a brief moment, a flicker of anger and hatred crossing in his eyes. He wasn't going to let that bastard Teach get away with what he'd done.

"Ace," Luffy's voice was calm, but it carried an uncanny seriousness that made Ace stop in his tracks and divert his attention solely to his brother. "Don't go after Teach." Luffy's eyes flickered to golden, locking with the steely ones of his brother. Normally, Luffy would never interfere with his siblings' plans, no matter how dangerous or stupid they were. But there was something in his gut—something deep and instinctive—that told him if Ace went after Teach, something devastating would happen. And Luffy knew, deep down, he would hate it if something truly wrong happened to his brother. He would never forgive himself if he lost another one.

Ace startled at Luffy's words, his body going rigid for a split second, as his silver eyes felt stuck to Luffy's, which had changed to golden, steady and intense in a way that Ace had only seen a rare amount of times. It was the kind of look that demanded more than just a casual response. But Ace had been preparing himself for this confirmation for a long time but Luffy.. he was never wrong about these things. His mind felt torn between the burning need to make Teach pay for his actions and Luffy's plea.

"I.." Ace started, his voice suddenly feeling stuck in his throat. He turned his head slightly, forcing himself to not look into Luffy's eyes, aware that his resolve would crumble to pieces if he stared too long. "I know." He knew that Luffy was trying to protect him from something far worse than the revenge he sought after, the golden eyes enough to make Ace reconsider but the thought of Teach's betrayal still ate at him. "But I can't just let him go, Lu." Ace spoke, his voice low, and knuckles turned white.

Luffy's eyes softened, understanding flickering in them, but he remained undeterred. He knew how important a family is for Ace and how betrayal hurts him worse than any other one of them, but Luffy didn't want Ace to go after Teach. "Ace, just promise me you won't go hunting for him. Not yet. Please, Ace.." He didn't want to lose another brother. He didn't want to hold Ace's dying body in his hands.. No, he absolutely cannot. "Please, Ace..!" The nightmares of.. Halad d-dying were resurfacing, glistening his eyes slightly. The presence of his siblings and crew had helped him stay strong till now but now having the gut feeling that history might repeat.. Luffy hated it.

Ace opened his mouth to retort to Luffy's words, not seeing the tears glimmering in Luffy's eyes, but Sabo chose to step in. "Ace, Luffy's right. We get it, you want to make Teach pay but chasing after him is useless." Sabo said, forcing Ace to look at Luffy.

Ace's heart lurched as he saw Luffy wipe his eyes, trying to play it off as if it hadn't happened but the tension and sadness in his baby brother's face was impossible to ignore. Ace's resolve shattered and his stomach tightened. He opened his mouth to comfort Luffy, but all his words faltered. How could he keep on insisting on revenge when Luffy was so much saddened by the mere idea of him doing so..?

Sabo's voice cut through the suffocating silence. "Ace, please." Sabo's tone wasn't angry. It was calm but it carried worry and concern for both of his brothers. "You know it wasn't your fault. Thatch is alive and recovering. You don't need to go after him." For all Sabo knows, that Teach could have planned this all. For having someone chase after him so that he can strike and turn things to his favor. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have just stolen the devil fruit when no one was looking? "Chasing after him won't do anything."

Ace wanted to retort, to say that he couldn't just let Teach run amok but none of them made their way out. The expectant and worried eyes of Sabo, Luffy and Bonney wouldn't let him speak those words. "...Fine." Ace exhaled, his shoulder slumping slightly. "I won't go after Teach. I won't search for him actively but if we cross paths then I am not letting the chance to punch his ugly mug." He looked at Sabo, Luffy and Bonney, noticing the reluctant yet satisfied agreement.

"I can live with that." Luffy shrugged with a smile on his face.

"That's the Ace-nichan we know!" Bonney clapped her hands, grinning.

"Try talking to Thatch sometimes. He tried to call me once again." Sabo faked a groan, knowing well enough that Ace considered Thatch as one of his best friends.

It would be good for Ace to talk to Thatch and stop chasing Teach. Everyone could clearly tell that Ace isn't handling this well, his mental state was terrible when they met after a while, even if he tried to put on a fake smile for Luffy.

They both knew they couldn't hide basically anything from Luffy. Moreover, Ace losing track of his crew and being separated? That was a cover and every one of them knew but none of them showed that they did, letting Ace keep up the facade, knowing that he needed his time with his family and closed ones.