Chapter Text
Great Age of Pirates, XX22
(5 days after capture)
Ace and Sabo: 17
Luffy: 12
Bad decisions; Ace seemed to be making a lot of them recently; his ears were ringing from the strength of Marco the Phoenix's blow. So maybe spitting on the First Mate of the world's strongest man was a mistake, but he never claimed to be the bright sibling; that was Sabo's job.
Ace groaned as the world stopped spinning and came into focus again. Marco the Phoenix had this almost amused look on his face; Jozu's face twisted in a way Ace was all too familiar with, and he knew he promised a world of pain. He couldn't see Izo, but the pirate he didn't recognize looked almost bored.
"Now then, let's try this again. Will you be good for us, pup?" Marco said, raising an eyebrow.
Ace wanted to shout, scream, and bite. He wanted to claw Marco's eyes out. He wanted to cry and roll up into a ball; He wanted to hug Luffy and Sabo. To pretend he didn't see Dadan checking to ensure he was alright. He wanted to hide because he was hurthurthurt and scared. But he didn't do any of those things because he had to be smart and survive. So he could get Luffy and Sabo away from this place.
Ace made himself choke down his anger and managed to nod his head in agreement.
"Good puppy, now let's begin with something simple. What is your name?"
Ace swallowed the saliva and what was most likely blood pooling in his mouth. How the hell did he answer this? He could lie and give a fake name or tell them his first name. Or he could tell them the truth, that demons like him don't get names. But Luffy could have slipped up and called for him, DearKamiWhatDidTheyDoToHer? This could be a test to establish how good the information he provided was and if it matched up with whatever they had already found out.
"Ace, my name is Ace."
There was silence for a moment before the unnamed pirate spoke. He should really come up with a nickname for him, Boredy, maybe.
"True"
No shit, he thought, but that word was terrifying in itself; if he knew Ace was telling the truth, that meant they already got information. Kami above that meant they already questioned Luffy WhatDidTheyDoToHer.
"Good job, puppy." He was startled out of his thoughts by the almost lyrical voice that belonged to Izo.
"Here, this is for you." Izo brought something up to his lips: a flask.
"Drink, I told you we could be kind." Izo titled the flask, and a liquid hit his lips; water, he realized after he hesitantly took a sip. The flask was pulled away before he could take another.
A mocking laugh, "Now, now, don't be greedy, pup."
Ace almost cried in frustration. Kami, he didn't realize how thirsty he was until the water hit his lips.
"Now then, what were you doing on Montatigo Island?"
. . .
Great Age of Pirates, XX17
(5 years, 5 months, 7 days, before the fateful mission)
Ace and Sabo: 12
Luffy: 7
Ace couldn't move. Akainu had decided he was ready to build up tolerance for seastone.
The collar was heavy around his neck. The room was dark, except for the crack of light coming from the slightly opened door. All Ace had to do was walk through the door, and there would be no more training for a week. A whole week!
But Ace couldn't move; he was cold. When was the last time he had ever been cold? Months, Years time moved funny now; he can't remember when he ate it. A couple of months before the Marines came to dawn.
Ace was cold, and he couldn't move. His muscles felt like jelly, and he could even muster up tears to cry.
He was alone, and it was dark. And Akainu was right; he was weak, pathetic, a waste of space who shouldn't be alive. He had the chance to give his siblings a break from this hell they were trapped in, and he couldn't move.
Kami, Ace hated the dark. It was slimy and crept in without any warning, pressing down down down on you. The darkness covered everything up till it was just Ace. Ace always hated being alone.
Ace couldn't move, and the door slammed shut, lock clicking in place. Ace knew he had failed the task, but now he was alone and in the dark, and he didn't even have the energy to scream.