Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Makino shushed the bundle in her arms, her entire body aching. She was so close to her destination, she could see the island in the distance and never had relief tasted so grand. It had taken her days to get here, or was it weeks? 

It was hard to measure the passing days when you fled for your life, when the most important being whimpered and cried, but never awoke in your arms. Luffy, her sweet little sun, her child and responsibility. Her heart ached at the thought that this would scar him for life, the knowledge that all he holds dear being eradicated because of who his father is. 

She was just lucky that her brother had managed to send word in time. Bogard defied his orders from the top while Garp distracted and managed to inform her about the Buster Call the only good thing they had done lately. Makino barely managed to escape, using the cover of darkness and then swimming a fair way away with a devil fruit child… she was burnt and bruised with an infection setting in from a bullet she caught to the shoulder… Only by the will of Calypso did she hold on long enough for a passing trading ship to find her, them.

The captain was a sweet man who had traded in Dawn often, he hid them at the cost of his own life if discovered, gave them enough Beli to find transport when they reached the next island… enough to make it to Orange Town at least. 

Makino just had to make it to Buggy the Clown, Blue. He would keep Luffy safe, she was sure of it, no matter how long Shanks had said it's been since he spoke with his brother. Family bound by choice and ocean air was strong… but then again, men were idiots. 

They may have not spoken or seen each other, there may be too much heartache between them but Makino heard the stories of Blue he told Luffy late at night. He made sure that Luffy knew his tio in all but blood and it was those stories that Makino placed her hope with. She wasn't going to make it, her wounds too deep and the Marines too close, she would have only so long to explain who Luffy was and to say goodbye before fleeing onwards, leading the Marines away from her joy. 

She hoped in time Luffy would forgive her.

She hoped that Luffy would never forget her and remember he was so loved.

Makino hoped for many things, prayed to Calypso and Davy Jones that Blue would put aside old hurts and take his nephew to Shanks and Beckman. Seas, she hoped they too would forgive her in time, she knew why they couldn't take Luffy to sea no matter how much it broke their hearts… but the land wasn’t safe for their treasure anymore. 

Shanks had told her once that Buggy had observation haki sensitive enough that it could cover an entire large town, a small island if he pushed it, so when her feet hit the dock of a seemingly abandoned Orange Town she did her best to remember and put to use what Uncle Garp and her older brother taught her when she was still a little girl. Meaning she tried to flare her embarrassingly meager haki to catch the attention of a pirate she had never met. 

She felt cold and knew she likely wouldn’t have time to flee Orange Town again before Death finally came for her, but though she didn’t carry the name, her mother had been Garp’s little sister both Monkey D’s through and through. Makino didn’t carry the name but she had the blood and if there was one thing Monkey D’s were good at that wasn’t just rage it was living longer than they should out of pure, unadulterated spite. 

“Didn't anyone teach you that throwing your haki out like that all willy nilly can attract unsavoury sorts?” A voice called out, pitchy and rough, any other time it would be menacing but it immediately relaxed Makino.

“Yes, but it did its job, it brought you to me.” She rasped back, a spasm in her chest. 

The man that stepped out was not what she was expecting and yet also was. His blue hair was pulled back in a tight bun, make up free from his face, red nose and daggers strapped to every visible surface possible. The frown on his face dropped for a moment in clear confusion.

“You were looking for me? Why?” He demanded stepping forward, dagger raised but still the woman didn't move.

“Because… you're the only one who can keep him safe now… the only one who can get him to his fathers.” Makino sniffled out desperately as she uncovered Luffy's flushed face. 

He was too small for being only seven and she did all she could to treat his injuries. Some were getting infected though not quite as badly as hers surely were. She’d done her best. She was no doctor and being on the run wasn’t exactly easy when the most grueling thing she’d done previously was run her mother’s bar alone after the virus took her years ago when she went to sea. 

“Me?” Buggy asked bewildered, dagger dropping down to his side. “Who?”

The cold air caused Luffy to whimper and for Makino to wrap him back up in her shawl, hushing him. “It's okay Luffy, your Tio Blue is going to take you to your papais, you'll be safe.” 

Hearing Blue from the green haired woman had Buggy jolting in place, his grip on his dagger growing slack in his hands. No one called him Blue anymore. They hadn’t in years and everyone that did was dead, in hiding, or in the case of his Red, his brother, a captain in his own right raising seas only knows what kind of hell since Buggy last laid eyes on him in Loguetown nearly a decade prior. In short this woman should not know the name Blue, not in attachment to him anyway. 

“I… I don’t have long…” the woman rasped out snapping Buggy from his thoughts and forcing him to take in the damaged state of her. Bandages peeked from beneath the collar of her shirt and half her face was bruised black and blue and cut up to boot. “Infection is too deep by now… I can hardly feel anything anymore. I can’t get him to the Line and you’re the closest family Shanks spoke of. Whoever told the Marines gave my description so they’re hunting me to find him. ”

“I’ll have my doctor look you both over so just come with me.” Buggy said as he began to step closer. “Is Shanks his father? No offense but you seem both a bit young and not near enough of a man to have caught that flashy idiot’s attention.”

“Lu-… Luffy is Ocean Blessed .” The woman rasped. “ Claimed by Calypso herself as both her son and Shanks’. The Ocean is in his veins and so is the blood and rage of a true Monkey D, Blue. Biologically he is my cousin but I’m the one who raised him, who fed him, taught him to read and write, changed his diapers, all of it. I acknowledge your brother’s claim and I am thankful for it.”

“ But… it doesn’t change that he is still my son .” The woman continued Buggy grabbing her shoulders to steady her when she sagged seemingly to fall unconscious where she stood just to stay awake out of spite. “You are the only family that I can reach, that I can trust when my brother and uncle serve those who wish my son dead. Swear to me , Dōke no Buggy, swear on Calypso, Jones, and everything in between, swear to me you will protect my son until you hand him to his fathers.”

Blue – because he was more Blue than Buggy here – swallowed thickly as the woman shakily placed the very small bundle in his arms, drawing his eyes down. He had expected a baby, not a toddler or was he older? Sickly like no D should be, he felt the pull of the tides in his blood, the roaring of the wind in his ears as he tore his eyes away from the child to the woman before him.

“I swear it.”

She smiled then a D smile through and through but Buggy could see the beauty beneath all the injuries and her tired eyes as she gently brushed her fingers over the boy’s face. More than that he could see the all consuming grief settling heavily on her shoulders as bloodied tears began to roll down her face. 

“I’m so sorry, Luz de Sol.” The woman whispered her eyes never leaving the child, Luffy’s, face. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you better so I could watch you grow up. Don’t… Don’t hate your grandfather for this, dear, he did his best to buy us time. Listen… Listen to your Tio Blue and your Papais when he gets you to them and eat your veggies too instead of just meat. Grow up strong , Luffy, I promise I’ll be watching. Makino loves you… oh Luz de Sol I love you so so much.”

“I can help you, can hide you. They’ll never find you, I can take you to Shanks too.” Buggy rasped as he clutched the small, precious bundle in his arms. 

“I… I’m well aware that I’m going to die, Blue.” Makino said softly. “I’ve been going far longer than anyone not a Monkey D would ever be able to. I’ve accepted it as much as I hate to leave him but he’s not alone… and I’m… I’m tired, Blue and I can hear Mamãe calling. She’s never liked to be kept waiting, you know. Her or Papai.”

Buggy closed his eyes at that and nodded, he knew that feeling well but he continued in spite and a fragile hope. He knew there were no words to persuade her, not when he could sense a marine ship not far from the island and heading this way. “What do you need?” 

A gleam ignited in those sad eyes, one that Buggy had avoided for so long, it was a familiar one that he tried so hard to forget. It was the gleam in his Captain's eyes when he was about to cause chaos, the gleam in his Mama’s eyes when she was about to cause pain. This was a woman who would fight to the death for any chance her loved ones could escape and he couldn't help but admire her and feel utterly sad that he never got to know her. 

“If you have any ammunition for my rifle I’ll gladly take it, bombs maybe? If they want to take me then they’ll have to do so with a fight.” She chuckled darkly but her gaze softened as those eyes drifted down to Luffy once more, the tone didn’t change though. “I will keep you to your word Dōke no Buggy, Gol-Silvers Blue, that he’ll be safe with you because though I will be gone, my wrath will still reach you if he is hurt.” 

“Well if I didn’t already believe you about the Monkey D thing that sold it.” Buggy huffed hoping the sudden fondness masked the grief trying to clog his throat. “I’ve never met a D that didn’t want to go down fighting tooth and nail one way or another. What kind of rifle? I’ve got plenty of bombs but need to know what caliber to grab.”

“A .300.” Makino said with a grin. “I had to leave my double barrel behind sadly.”

“You… are a very scary young woman.” Buggy said. He thinks he might have just fallen in love a little bit. Makino reminded him of Rouge. “I like it.”

Makino turned towards the ocean once more, eyes far into the distance. “I don’t have much time.” 

Buggy nodded and gestured for her to follow him, he knew that Mohji was already getting everything needed while Cabaji waited for more commands. His first and second were truly astounding at what they did and how they could anticipate his every need… He hates himself a little for what he is about to subject his crew to, the Grand Line was not for everyone and though he made sure they would be Paradise ready… they still wouldn’t be prepared. 

“Cabaji, get the Big Top ready, we leave immediately. Squad four will need to stay in Orange Town, send the Fuwas to roam the East and keep training the others. No one must think we have left the East till we are halfway through Paradise.” Buggy ordered without looking back, knowing his second would get things done. 

He didn’t stop till he was in his cabin on the Big Top, gently laying the child down in the middle of his bed. Child, his nephew… who was now his responsibility. Swallowing, Buggy turned back towards the woman before making his way over to his lab and handing over a bag full of his newly made Muggy Balls. The ones he saved for Pirate Crews who take it too far and he wanted to get close and personal. They were small but had the same impact and power as his Buggy Balls. 

“Light them and throw, they pack a punch, make sure you’re a good distance away.” He explained as he caught the box his sniper threw at him as he passed before handing it over to the woman. “There's a small boat you can take off to the port side.” 

“No flags or markings on it, right?” Makino said as she accepted the munitions passed her way. 

“None.” Buggy replied and watched as the woman once again flitted over to the small child, Luffy… He has to keep remembering, he cannot forget because he was a treasure, the most valuable one Buggy had within the vicinity. 

He was honoured and terrified of the responsibility, flashes of his childhood ripping across his memory like it was caught in a riptide. This little, living, breathing human being was trusted to him because he was family. Family. How could he not believe that? Blue she called him, the only people who called him that he no longer speaks with and though Shanks and he… 

Since Loguetown and their spat… Buggy had hoped and prayed to Calypso - even if in secret - that his brother still loved him, still remembered. Even after everything, decades down the line, Shanks saw fit to tell his son about him, about Blue and not just Buggy. It was humbling to know that he did still love him that in some way Shanks was still his Red . 

“Goodbye my sweet Luz de Sol.” She murmured softly once more, placing a kiss on Luffy’s brow and tucking her shawl around him firmer. There was one thing left, just one and she turned to stare at the man who she had just entrusted her most beloved treasure to. 

He didn’t fidget under her stare, he met her gaze head on even if it flickered to Luffy, the harshness in his features softening slightly as he caught sight of the red hair that was messily sticking out all over the place. She knew Luffy would be looked after, that he would live, but Luffy had entrusted her with his treasure and now she must pass it on. 

“He asked me to keep this safe.” She explained softly, reaching into the folds of her skirt and pulled out the well worn and loved straw hat. “I’m entrusting it with you now, all his love and trust is in this, if you hurt it then you hurt him and he will not hesitate.” 

Buggy chuckled mirthlessly as he took the hat from her hands, turning it over and over. He remembered the day that his Captain bestowed this upon Red’s head and the sheer spree of chaos and vengeance that followed if someone dared try to take it from him. The fact that he had given it willingly to his son was an ache he tried to push away but also cemented his resolve to protect his nephew and brave the places that had hurt him so much. 

If he didn't believe her, then he would with this undeniable proof.

“I know.” He replied because what else was there to say, if she knew him, she knew the stories. Knew that this wouldn’t be the first time Buggy has cared for this hat, though extremely rare those times were. 

Makino nodded and glanced one last time at Luffy, committing his face to her memory before walking out the door, heart breaking and mending with each step away from that door. She knew that there was a good chance that she wouldn’t make it, that she would never see her Sunshine ever again and Makino could be okay with that… had to be okay with it. It hurt . Seas, did it hurt to leave the little boy she loved more than anything in this world. 

He had been hers since the night Garp showed up in the middle of an unseasonably early typhoon and passed over a toddler with a bullet wound still healing on his little leg. Before that night Makino had never really thought of being a mother; she had already become more than content with her life and routine running her mother’s little bar. At first she’d even been in denial about her motherly urges toward the baby in her care, thinking of herself as Luffy’s older sister instead of his mother. 

Then he had his first bout of rage and she saw how the other villagers looked at her precious Luz de Sol. Those looks almost put her into a rage of her own but looking at Luffy crying in her arms had stopped her. He had always been such a sweet child though one chaotic to a fault but he was hers and she loved him more than life itself. 

But he would be loved still, she’d made sure of it. So instead of looking back, instead of greeting the shroud of death she could feel looming at her back holding her son, her life, her very reason to keep fighting, she walked on. She walked across the deck with her teeth bared in a grin that did her D blood proud and hauled lines to sail out of the little bay alone. It was as she did that she remembered words her mother had spoken when she was barely older than Luffy was now. D’s don’t die daintily, they die gutted, gruesome, and growling and if Makino was going out she was taking the fucking marines that wanted her son dead with her. 

Buggy watched from the railing of his ship as his crew scurried about and cast off, Sorena was with his nephew checking him over and tending to his wounds, but he knew that she could not do much, not for a sickly D. She’s never had to treat any D and there was only one man close enough that could help. If Crocus wasn’t enough he’d have to go to Drum for Kureha. He may love the old hag but Buggy hated the fucking cold. 

He was going to have to be careful, he was going to have to lay traps and out maneuver the marines which would hopefully be easy enough, but Buggy needed to get in contact with Red, something which would be a task to do. For one he didn’t  know if Red would take his call, no matter the fact he told his son about him. Two, same reasons but he couldn’t be sure his brother wouldn’t think that  Buggy took his child. Which frankly no fucking thank you. He was going to love his nephew of course but by general rule Buggy couldn’t stand kids. 

The only thing he could do was stay alive till he got to Rayleigh, their Pops could get ahold of Red then or take Luffy off his hands, what would be one more child to him? He could ask Uncle Momora but that was a risk too, who knew how many eyes his uncle had in his nest. The one thing he knew for sure was that he would not be dragging his skeleton crew into the New World. Mostly because he was well aware they couldn’t handle that level but also because he wanted next to nothing to do with the part of the sea he spent a majority of his childhood on. 

He couldn’t handle that heartbreak, sailing the seas with no family by his side, no Red at his back or the sheer warmth of his father resting over his shoulders. 

“May Calypso greet you with kindness,” He whispered as the horizon began to burn. 

D’s, bearing the initial or claimed by them… fucking crazy the lot of em and only a D could burn the sea.  

He watched till he couldn't see the burn of Makino’s rage, till the sky turned dark once more before turning away and making his way back to his quarters. Sorena was still there, as he knew she would be but the look on her face was grim. “Has he awoken at all?” 

“No, there's no head injury that I can see but the scarring is extensive, the malnutrition even more.” Sorena grimaced, her boss may not like kids but he hated when they were treated poorly. “I don’t know what happened but whoever took care of his burns and wounds did good. The one on his chest is the worst, it has the beginnings of infection that I've administered double the antibiotics for.” 

Buggy felt his fury rise as he gazed at his nephew on the bed now covered in pristine white bandages, but even with that, he could count every rib and knobbly bit. He knew that the woman had did her best but D’s were hard to feed and cater to and he wondered why the ever loving flashy fuck his brother left his son alone. 

“Any broken bones? Internal damage?” He asked as he sat by the bed, fists clenched in his coat to stop himself from reaching out. 

Sorena shook her head, eyes downcast. “I was surprised when I checked that everything was still intact. But then he, well, he stretched. The kid has a Devil Fruit.” 

His eyes slipped closed and he felt a headache coming on because of course, of course, his nephew had a Devil fruit and Buggy would bet his entire treasury that it was Shanks’ fault. How many times has Shanks ripped a soul away from Calypso's embrace? Sure, it could have been an accident but it's always an accident. Bitterness swelled within Buggy's chest, acrid in taste when he swallowed it back down. It's been too long to hold a grudge like this, not now, not with this kid who he shares the same fate with. 

“Do your best to keep him stable.” Buggy said once he had himself under control once more. “We have roughly a week to reverse mountain. There’s a doctor there that’s familiar with Ds insert a feeding tube if you must. Monkey Ds are the most gluttonous out there but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sleeping because his body is too weak to function past fighting the infection.”

“We will need more, we may have to stop at Loguetown to resupply. I was low on a lot of things after that run in with the Black Kats.” Sorena stated with a wince as she watched her captain tense. 

“Then we will dock nearby and I'll row over, I want none of you to step foot on that cursed land.” Buggy explained never turning around, instead choosing to take in his nephew's features. He didn’t even want to step foot on it but Luffy needed medicine and Buggy was already as cursed as he could be. “Make a list, give it to Mohji and he'll get it to me. Thank you Sorena.” 

Knowing when she was dismissed, Sorena left the room, the door making a soft click behind her as she made her way towards Medical to do as he asked.

Once alone Buggy sighed and pulled out the Straw Hat, holding it up in the light. It had aged, there were new marks and tears mended lovingly. He wondered what stories went with these scars, were they full of adventure, loud and boisterous like his Captain or quiet and painful like everything that came after? He desired to crush it, tear it and scream but he couldn't because he could feel his brother's haki dripping from each weave of straw. Could feel the mine and son. 

“What did you do to earn this kid? My brother would never willingly part with the last token of our father…” He whispered tiredly. “But I can tell you love it just as fierce as Red.” 

There was no answer, there would be no answer until the brat woke up, till then he needed to plan, to prepare and to hide him. That was going to be the issue, Buggy could only cover so far with his haki and even less when he had to suppress Voices. He did not wish to bring the child with him when they reached Loguetown but he couldn't leave him on the Big Top either, not with the Marine forces as they are. 

Bring him and risk hurting him but safe? Or leave him on the ship pain free but risk his safety?

If Luffy still didn’t wake it’d be Buggy hauling a kid of who knows how old around feverish and starved. That begged for the attention of some well meaning marine because even Buggy could admit they weren’t all horrible. But for the premise of the thing and also because the kid was currently the target of an active Nico Robin level hunt, fuck the marines. 

Yet and still, if he took Luffy with him to the local apothecary that he knew sold to known pirates then the old saw bones that ran it could look his new brat over and better yet give medicine that will actually help the kid over just keeping him stable. Something had to give because for all his little Voice was stronger than the woman who’d delivered him to Buggy’s had been Death was still looking over the kid and Buggy decidedly did not wish to find out how flashily his Red would stain the seas with blood should his son die. 

He didn't want to be the one to look his brother in the eye and tell him he failed. That he was trusted, not trusted, just convenient , to protect his greatest treasure and failed. At that point Buggy would accept his fate, welcome Calypso's wrath because… because he couldn't put that twisted broken look back on his brother's face. Did not want to be a reason for that hollowed stare or be another nightmare and betrayal marred on his soul. 

Buggy knew that there was a difference between death in his care or death because of him and to Buggy neither was an option. 

He could feel the breakdown coming, the anxiety attack that so desperately wanted him to break into pieces. Seas, what has his life come to? His brother has a son… an Ocean Blessed son who happens to be a Monkey D of all things! He remembers Garp vividly and would never like to cross his path ever again but now he has his grandson… seas, this kid is now hand in hand with Ace and Nico Robin on the wanted scale. 

He hoped that the woman's sacrifice was believable, that the Marines believed the Kid died with her… a groan left his lips as he began to pace, running his fingers through his hair aggressively. A cacophony of noise filtered through the door, familiar in the way his idiots dropped something or didn't secure something properly and he yyanked the door open intending to deal with it.

Only, the moment he went to do so a soft whimper left the kid on his bed, pained and familiar. He slammed the door closed once more and strode across the room back to the boy's side, hands hovering in unsurity. What did he do? How did he comfort this child? Hesitatingly he lifted the child into his arms, stiffening the moment he seemed to curl into Buggy's chest and settle down. 

“Shhh… Bu— Tio Blue has you.” He soothed, gently rocking the child, heart lodged firmly in his throat and body aching with how stiff he was. 

He never had been good with kids, no it was Shanks they flocked to with his easy laugh and bright smile. Buggy was too angry, too scary for the children, no matter the fact he looked like a clown. Would this kid be the same? Take one look at him and scream, flinch away? Yes, Red told his kid about him but… stories are far from reality and Buggy hasn't been Blue in a very long, long time. He'd almost forgotten who Blue was. 

Shaking his head, he scrubbed at his face with his free hand. Even now he's cleaning up Red's messes, always pulling him into catastrophe after catastrophe. Granted this one wasn’t exactly Shanks’ fault seeing as he couldn’t blame the red head for not hauling the kid off to the line himself. They grew up loved beyond measure on the Oro Jackson, but it didn’t change the fact that they saw some shit no kid ever should throughout their early years no matter how much their parents and uncles tried to protect them from such things. 

“ ‘Kino…” the kid, Luffy , keened softly and Buggy felt his heart break a bit more.

He’d seen just how much the woman had loved his little nephew, how far she was willing to go just to keep him safe, and it hurt more than a little bit. She had reminded him so much of Rouge and though logic told him otherwise he couldn’t help but hope that she’d somehow survived.  With a soft sigh Buggy sat himself on the bed carefully scooting back until he was propped up against the wall. His hand shook as he gently smoothed the wrinkle furrowing the little one’s brow. 

“I’ve got you, Kid.” Blue whispered it was the loudest he could manage with his father’s hat looming in the corner of his vision from where he’d put it on the hook next to his Captain’s coat. “Tio Blue has you.”

Chapter Text

Loguetown was just as dingy as he remembered, still just flea ridden and salt water rotten as the last time he stepped foot on these shores. Though he could see where the Marines had tried, slapped on new paint to hoodwink you into believing that Loguetown is the place to be. A tourist spot and a warning. 

Buggy sneered at the propaganda that littered nearly every surface, photos of Garp and advertisements of ‘The Marines want YOU’ it was disgusting. He wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for the brat that was wrapped snugly around his chest, hidden under layers and a cloak. His options from before either leave the kid or bring him was unfortunately chosen for him as any time Buggy even stepped more than five feet away from the kid he whimpered. 

He tried to pass the child off to one of the others so he could make this trip and no one settled the little beast like he did, well, there was Richie but Buggy wasn’t going to leave a sick child with the Lion, no matter how tame. Knowing his luck, his brother would somehow figure it out and then it’d be Buggy’s hide. No thank you. 

The kid’s sick was working in his favor however, leaving the brat’s voice weak enough to feel like any other civilians. It made him wonder just what kind of monster the kid was if being on death’s door made him feel normal. Then again Luffy was a Monkey D. by blood and by far every Monkey D. he had ever heard of or met was bat shit crazy by default. 

It had taken nearly three days of sailing to reach Loguetown and in the entirety of that time Luffy had never woken up, not even for food. Buggy had hoped it wouldn’t be necessary but when he couldn’t be roused to consume anything after a full 24 hours in their care Buggy made his suggestion of a feeding tube a requirement just so they could get something into the kid. Even the meager blended meals were helping and Buggy made sure the kid got two meals worth every few hours. 

Luffy while not gaining weight was no longer fading before his eyes and his fever had even dropped some so Buggy was going to take that as him and Sorena doing something right. With a soft sigh, Buggy slipped into the back alley building that housed arguably the best apothecary this side of Reverse Mountain. Pity no one on the right side of the law knew of its existence. 

A gnarled old woman was the one manning the shop and Buggy distantly wondered if she just never aged. Because he could remember her looking just as ancient when he’d wandered in behind Crocus when he was restocking his medicines the day before the execution. He wouldn’t be surprised, honestly doctors were just weird like that. 

“Never thought I’d see the day ye wandered back into my little shop.” The old woman rasped as murky green eyes that reminded him of his Mama’s scary stories about swamp witches peered over thin wire framed glasses. “My daughter told me ye’d sworn off Loguetown entirely the day the Marines took yer Captain’s head.”

“Extenuating circumstances,” Buggy drawled back as he cast his gaze around, detaching an ear in the process to look further. If there was someone here who would try to take this kid from him, then Buggy would hear about it first. “Was tasked with a mission, unfortunately my charge is unwell and nothing we have can treat it till I get to Crocus and who knows what the old man has in his stock.” 

“I assume yer doctor sent ye with a list.” The witch croaked. “Come now, hand it over. I ain’t gettin’ any younger, boy. If ye want anything truly effective though yer gonna have to let me look at the lil whelp ye got hid in all them clothes.”

Any other time Buggy wouldn’t have hesitated; he knew better, lectured to Skypiea and back by Crocus but… but he knew that she needed to see the kid, there was no other option. The Witch could probably give a better diagnosis than Sorena and he couldn’t pass that up. With a grimace and another look he began to peel back the edges of his cloak and the makeshift swaddle that his crew made for him, carefully plucking his nephew out for her to see. 

Ambling from behind the counter Buggy had to fight not to jerk Luffy away when those gnarled hands reached out for him. Best doctor this side of the line or not, The Witch creeped him the hell out. Not Flashy at all! He managed to keep still as the kid was plucked from his arms though knowing from his meager three days of experience that as long as he was in the room his nephew wouldn’t fuss. He hoped. 

The Witch tisked and hummed as she poked and prodded his nephew, peeling back the bandages and muttering to herself. Anxiety crept up his spine causing his fingers to twitch, he wanted to yank that kid back and strap him to his torso once more where it was safe. Davy Jones, it’s only been three days and he’s already attached and the brat hasn’t really even said anything! 

He’s ignoring the little voice inside his head that tells him its because even sick and unconscious, he trusts him to keep him safe… Buggy was safe.

“Yer doing a shit job if a D is half starved in your care.” The Witch grumbled. “Though I guess if yer doctor done put this feedin’ tube in his gut there’s at least one of ye with some damn sense in their noggin.”

“The feeding tube was my idea!” Buggy snapped back before wincing, Witch or not, he was offended. “Sor hasn’t dealt with a D before, been feedin’ him every two hours but he’s got a fruit. He’s been asleep ever since I got him, don’t know how long before that. His fever is less than it was but… Look, I know how to heal him but that’s not an option yet, so we have to do it the old way.” 

“Well seein’ as he’s definitely a Monkey D. By that and the burns, I’d wager whoever brought the whelp to ye was runnin from the Buster call that took out the whole of Dawn a few weeks back.” The Witch grumbled still poking and prodding at Luffy like he was a research specimen more than a patient. “Best to assume he ain’t been fed enough since then. Monkeys are a resilient sort though so if ye triple what yer giving him ye could maybe have him conscious in a couple days.”

Buggy stared flatly at her. “This is why I am here. You know who he is, what he is. I do not have the supplements to keep up with the intake. I need enough to last till Drum at least.” 

The Witch hummed, her eyes flicking from spot to spot around the store before nodding. Buggy took that as an okay for him to gather Luffy into his arms once more, his entire being relaxing the moment he felt those little puffs of breath across his collarbone. He’d been on a razor’s edge the moment she mentioned she knew what family he had come from. His heart lodged in his throat though, hand running gently through those red strands at the thought of his nephew facing down a Buster Call. 

Never has he ever felt the need to willingly contact Dragon and or stab the man more. 

“It’ll cost you a pretty Belli.” The Witch stated as she gathered everything, wrapping it tightly in bundles while also gathering everything on Sorena’s list. 

He didn’t say a word as he dropped a stack of Belli’s down on the counter, it was a considerable amount and he added extra for her silence because Buggy wasn’t born last week or even yesterday. He knew that she would tell either the Marines or Bounty Hunters where he was and who he had if the money was good enough. Even if she didn’t, Buggy still wasn’t going to risk it. 

She handed over everything and Buggy didn’t waste a moment more to exit the shop of horrors and back into the fray of Loguetown, no matter the time of day this place was never asleep, it only got seedier when the shadows became dark enough to hide in. He didn’t have any intentions of his brat being on ground when dark fell, especially not if that ground was soaked with his Father’s blood. 

Half way back to the ship he felt eyes on him, he didn’t know who or if it was a Marine or simply a gutter rat thinking he was an easy mark. Either way Buggy didn’t give a flying flashy fuck, in the end if they dared they would end up the same, dead in the ditch with their throat slit. He didn’t have the time or patience for this flashy bullshit. 

He changed his route several times, alternated his turns but still the eyes stayed, still they were followed and the Voice was slimy beyond all reason. This was no street urchin and Buggy was done. He filled his hands with his daggers, slipping his non dominant hand free with his eye and ear to hunt for the fuck who dared. 

“I do not have time for this.” Buggy hissed furiously as he ducked and weaved through the dank alley, whirling around to stare down at the bastard. 

“Give me the kid an’ I’ll let ye go. Don’ need any problems with ye clown.” The man rasped back, yellow teeth bared in a mockery of a smile. “Can split the bounty if need, either way set me up for life if I ‘and ‘im over.” 

“You’ll only get this kid over my cold dead corpse.” Buggy snarled furiously, letting his daggers in his dominant hand glint in the limited light. 

“That can be arranged too.” The man said with a sleazy grin. 

A dark laugh escaped Buggy as he threw the daggers with rapid aim, lodging them deep in each shoulder and thigh while his other hand got all the weak points from behind. The man screamed as he toppled, eyes bulging as Buggy strode forward, yanking the knives out slowly, twisting with each pull and letting the stupid flashy fuck see his missing pieces re-attatch. He will live, not for long, but long enough. 

“You’re lucky I don’t have time for this because I'd make it slow. I’d make it last weeks. The kid is my nephew and I will not let a single fucking person take him from me. You should be glad that it was me though because Shanks would have done worse if you touched a hair on his son's head.” Buggy stated, violence dripping from each word and he savoured the fear in the man's eyes as he struggled to get away, but it was kind of hard to do with severed ligaments and spinal damage. 

With a roll of his eyes he sent his still detached hand to slice the scums throat and pluck the rest of his blades from the rapidly bleeding out soon to be corpse. He really did wish he had time to make the bastard suffer a bit more for even thinking of stealing his nephew to give to the marines but alas it was almost time for Luffy to be fed again and he was already behind schedule for him to get his next dose of medicine too. That in mind, Buggy left the filth to rot and scurried back to the little dinghy he’d rowed over to do this medicine run to begin with. 

He felt better once he was back on the Big Top, giving out orders for his crew to take them up Reverse Mountain and to make sure that everything was secure and life lines were attached at all times for those on deck. He’d have to steer them, having gone over the mountain several times himself and was shown by Sunbell how to do it safely. He was sure as hell going to make sure he and the brat attached to him was secure before doing so though. 

“The old Witch gave us enough to last till Drum, make sure of it. If not then we will have to get more made when we reach the other side. We have to triple the dosage for him to keep the nutrients on, seas, why is it always me!?” He whined lowly as he handed over everything to Sorena who nodded and scurried away to prepare the next dosage for the kid. 

Sighing heavily he sat down on the chair in his room, peeling back the layers to see that indeed Luffy was still asleep, Voice stronger than it was but not by much and he looked no worse or better than he did when they left. Safe and sound. Carefully, he cuddled the boy close and pressed his lips to his forehead like he’d seen Makino do during her final goodbye. The kid didn’t deserve this and frankly neither did he, but it was the situation they were stuck in now. 

He hated that he’d more than likely have to leave the kid to whine and pitch a fit in his sleep while he guided his own ship up and over Reverse Mountain but with Luffy already sick he didn’t feel it the best idea to have him out getting drenched by the Grand Line’s first warning. 

“Look kid, you’re gonna have to let me go for an hour or two.” Buggy murmured softly. “I’ll be back, Tio Blue promises.” 

Like always, the moment he placed and swaddled Luffy into the middle of the bed, he began to fuss, whimper and reach out. He was like a baby, were all kids like this? What life did this child lead to be this way? He didn’t know and Buggy didn’t think he wanted to ever find out because there was a guarantee that he’d lose his shit along with Red’s if he ever found out too. He let out a whistle, summoning Richie because if he couldn’t be here and the Lion couldn’t be on deck… well… Buggy had to agree that the Lion would keep the brat safe, to a degree. Probably. Hopefully. 

Going over Reverse Mountain was both liberating and nauseating. The same adrenalin rush of going up a mountain in rapids that defy physics and logic, skipping the top and with a pull of a rope change what direction you wished to go down from. His heart ached, faintly, over the screams of his crew and him yelling out his orders… he could hear his family sing Binks and his father laughing on the wind. 

He really wished, in this moment, that Red was here with him… That the brat was awake to see this too… 

A loud cry from Laboon greeted them as they finally neared the end of this thrilling hell ride that Buggy so desperately wants to get off of. The Island Whale had grown so much since the last time he laid eyes on him, his eyes scanned the coast line for the familiar figure of his Uncle, catching him walking out of the lighthouse with furrowed brows and an unimpressed stare that sent him right back to childhood. He let his haki slip a little and watched as that stare turned into one of wonder, surprise and confusion. 

“Goji, bring us in. There’s a docking spot just around those rocks.” Buggy ordered as he untied himself from the helm and stormed back towards his cabin as quick as his feet could take him. His nephew's Voice kept growing weaker as they went higher and he needed to check on the brat. 

He wasn’t surprised to find a frazzled looking Sorena gently rocking a heavily fussing Luffy who’s cries were bordering on wails. It didn’t mean it didn’t break his heart any less. Buggy was beginning to think that Little Luffy was just as sensitive to haki as he was. That was the only explanation he could think of that would explain how upset the kid got when he wasn’t nearby or preferably holding the tiny sick terror. 

“I’ve got him, Sor,” Buggy said softly as he scooped the kid back into his arms. “You and Richie take a break.”

“I’m sorry, Captain, he just doesn’t seem to like me,” Sorena stated as she handed over Luffy. 

“It's fine Sor, I have a feeling as to why. We've managed to reach Twin Capes. The doctor I mentioned is here, I need to speak with him first.” Buggy explained as he made his way outside once more, shrugging on his jacket and wrapping it snug over the small body now resting peacefully on his chest. 

“Alright, Little Terror, you’ve gotta get poked and prodded at by another new doctor.” Buggy huffed as he leapt down to the shore. “Hopefully this one will be able to actually make you feel better.”

Crocus was waiting at the top of the stairs for Buggy, his eyes full of worry as he quickly ushered him inside of the Lighthouse. Buggy was thankful the old man didn't go for a hug, he wouldn't be able to stand that right now, nor did he want to crush the precious treasure strapped to his chest, rubber or not. 

“I don't want to hear your sentiments Doc, I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't serious.” Buggy grouched as Crocus went to open his mouth, shucking all his layers he carefully unswaddled Luffy from his person for the old man to see. 

“Shanks claimed himself a brat. However we promised years ago not to bring kids onto our ships unless there was no other option so he left him with what family he had and Captain’s hat.” Buggy said not looking up as he carefully cradled Luffy against his chest. “He’s a Monkey D by blood and Shanks’ by the blessing of the sea. According to the woman who brought him to me he was claimed by the sea herself as her own too.”

Crocus sucked in a sharp breath as the boy was finally revealed to him, taking in the mottled sunken skin and healing injuries, the dark red hair and lax features. He waited for his nephew to place the child before him, hand always on the child as he gave Crocus enough room to work. 

“He’s malnourished, I did what I could with the knowledge I had. His fever is down and what little infection he did have is clearing up. He still hasn’t awoken, between him being a D and a Devil Fruit user it’s been hard to keep the supplements right but… that is not all.” Buggy explained, his dark blue eyes finally looking up at Crocus who was waiting. “Besides coming to you because of your knowledge and experience with making D Supplements… I will need something to help with… well… he’s like Captain.” 

To explain it better Buggy let go of his nephew and stepped back, watching with a twisted heart as he began to whimper and reach out for him, voice fluctuating like normal when it wasn’t Buggy the one who was near him. He had thought about it long and hard, that his Haki was like Captain’s, that he only felt safe with Buggy because Makino told him he would be… that Shanks must have told him he was trusted. 

“Shhh kid, Crocus won’t hurt you.” Buggy shushed as he stepped forward once more, eyes never leaving the old man who was watching with wide eyes as Luffy instantly settled. 

Crocus didn’t even utter a word as he rushed over to his healing rooms, taking the bag that Buggy had dropped at the doorway and rummaged through everything, grabbing down everything he would need while he was at it. He was pleased to find everything he needed within the bag, perhaps some things that weren't necessary but thought of anyway and got to work. 

It had been a long time since he had made this medication, the memory bringing an ache to his heart at the thought of his lost brother. Kureha had helped him solve the issue with the D Metabolism, especially since Gol’s were on par with Monkey’s in consumption wise. Though the mild sedative he would have to make would knock out any man or even kill a weaker one, it was the only one that seemed to work for Roger briefly in the end to quiet the Voices of the world enough to manage when his Haki grew weak. 

“Have you spoken to Red?” Crocus asked as he mixed what he needed together and ground it down, contemplating if he should boil it with sea water instead of distilled. To be fair, the only thing that will help the kid truly recover and recover fast and well would be to bathe in the waters but Red would have to be with him, blood of bond, blood of oath. 

“Too dangerous, don’t know who could be listening. He’s being hunted.” Buggy replied. “I’ve kept him hidden as much as I can, it’ll have to do till I make it to Sabaody.” 

“Ah, Leigh.” Crocus hummed in understanding. “Does anyone know?” 

Buggy shot the old man a look, even if he couldn’t see it. “You are the first person I have spoken to in years. None of the others cared to contact me after they abandoned Red and I, so why should I put in the effort?”

He saw the flinch and had to fight down the urge to smirk and bare his teeth all at the same time. Good , be uncomfortable at the fact you chose a whale over two children who had just lost everything . Buggy himself had been better off than Shanks he imagined. He at least had already grown up on the streets before Rayleigh snatched him up. Shanks had only ever had the crew from the time he was in diapers. 

Some nights Buggy had nightmares of all the things that could have happened to his brother… nights that drove him to drink, that drove him to work relentlessly on new schemes and chemistry combinations to avoid it all. There was only so much his mind could take between the wars, the death… his fathers head rolling with a smile … He spent years in a panic that he had condemned his brother to his death and only relaxed when he saw Shanks’ bounty years later. 

He wondered if Shanks was ever the same… he must have thought of Buggy right? He told his brat all their adventures… It was a fragile hope that he was clinging to, the only thread left of his sanity… His crew was kin but his brother was Red, he and now Luffy was all the family, true family he had left. 

Buggy also ignored the voice in his head that if that were the case then wouldn’t have Shanks visited him while in the east? He’d said so many cruel things to his brother during their fight after the execution that he couldn’t, wouldn’t , fault his brother for not searching him out. The fact that he was still loved enough that his Red told his son tales about him flattering enough that it was him Makino sought out was enough to make him hope that maybe, just maybe, he could have his brother back for real. 

Makino was stubborn enough she could have made it to the Line if she hadn’t known Buggy was an option. He grieved for the woman he didn’t get to come to know and for the loss Luffy didn’t even know he had suffered. Makino had described him as a sweet boy and if he recalled his limited Goan correctly even his nickname meant Sunshine. He wanted to see that not the withered husk Luffy had become. 

“This should be enough for a month or so, but I can show your doctor how to make it.” Crocus rasped as he packed away all the vials, hiding the tremor in his hands. “Stay for the night, I’ll monitor him to see if it helps and I’ll write up a copy of everything they will need.” 

This was not what he wanted, but Buggy couldn’t disagree, he’d just have to hope that no one saw him traverse up the mountain and down the other side and if someone else did come down the other side then he hoped they wouldn’t see his ship. The place they docked was the more hidden one, just out of view and before a ship could even see where they were it would be too late for them otherwise… that is if they survived the trip down in the first place. 

This place wasn’t called the Pirates Graveyard for nothing. 

“Very well,” he acquiesced, watching critically as Crocus administered the first dose. 

He had never seen how his Captain took it, no one but Rayleigh, Rouge and Gaban did. No one knew he was sick till there were no more ways to hide it. D’s were a stubborn lot, resilient beyond stupidity and generally went toe to toe with death on a near daily basis… but when they did get sick, and he means truly sick… it was fast, it was mean and it was gruelling. 

It was true for Luffy too, though he’d wager the starvation was what was causing the most issues. The Monkey D. Line was one of the rarer ones that doubled up on the D gene going back generations. It had been quite the shock to learn that before Garp not a single recorded Monkey D. had been on the right side of the law. Which led him to wonder just who had shoved the Justice stick so far up his ass Buggy would be amazed to learn he could still shit right. 

“It is good to see you, Blue,” Crocus added after a beat, just as Buggy went to walk out the door. 

He turned slightly, keeping one hand on Luffy, who was still resting in the old man's arms and narrowed his eyes. “It’s Buggy. Blue died the day Roger did and his family abandoned him without looking back. You didn’t care for Blue then, so don’t care for me now Crocus.” 

Chapter Text

The night took too long but he wasn’t surprised. As a doctor that knows D’s he trusted Crocus to no end, but as a person not so much. He understood how the old man cared for the island whale but what he had never understood was how none of his Uncles cared enough to check on him and Red. He and Red had both been hunted just like Luffy was now only it wasn’t the World Government after them but any breathing pirate that held or grudge against Roger… or thought that his Cabin Boys would also know the secret to reaching the One Piece. 

News flash, they fucking didn’t and Buggy earned a few too many scars and new nightmares from the absolute bullshit that was that particular kidnapping. Buggy had been sick as a dog half freezing to death in healing pools on the island before last. He didn’t really start recovering until they were far from that part of the New World. 

Relief was strong when Crocus said that Luffy had improved, that he had no adverse reaction to the medication he had made. He gave the old man a thankful nod while carefully strapping Luffy to his chest once more. Buggy had nothing else to say to the Doctor beyond a thank you and for the love of flashy fuck do not utter a word about his visit. It wasn’t safe, even with his connections. 

While he watched his crew get ready to set sail Sorena took the time to speak with Crocus, Buggy refused to even look back at him, suppressed his and Luffy’s Haki to nothing when he felt the prodding. A decade, it only took the old codger a decade to care and it was only because Buggy had come to him. 

“You’re lucky you’ve grown on me you little rubber brained brat,” He murmured affectionately, hand patting over the spot where Luffy’s crown was. 

He planned to sail straight for Kureha next so that Luffy could have semi-regular check-ins as they journeyed through Paradise. Some islands he’d skip entirely, especially Jaya. He wasn’t taking his nephew anywhere near that cesspool of piracy. They had enough supplies to make it to Alabasta before they truly needed a restock and they had great medicines sold in their markets. 

But not just that, Buggy had sailed these seas, had memorised the maps that were on the Oro. He knew smaller islands that were filled with game to hunt or fruit to scavenge if they needed to take alternative routes after Drum. The only issue was that now they were in Paradise, the Marine forces would be doubled than what they would be in the Blues, even if everyone thinks Luffy is still in the East or Dead. He’d rather be safe than sorry. 

It was several days into the journey and Buggy was locked in his cabin, the boat rocking furiously to a sudden storm. It made him nervous, mainly because this was Paradise and storms like this didn’t just appear unless it was from a devil fruit user. So Buggy trusted his helmsman, his crew to navigate the outer edges towards one of the smaller islands they could anchor off of while he suppressed Luffy’s voice. 

“... Tio? Where ‘Kino?” The sudden voice made Buggy jolt in place before looking down at the bundle in his arms. 

“Nice to see your eyes for once, Little Terror.” Buggy huffed fondly in lieu of answering. “How are you feeling?” 

“Sleepy. Why we rocking so much?” Luffy rasped out his voice hoarse in a way that had Buggy quickly digging a canteen of water from his side table drawer. 

“You’re on my ship and we’re in a storm right now.” Buggy answered glad the brat wasn’t insisting on answers about Makino’s whereabouts. 

“Ship?” Luffy rasped confused, eyes glazed. “Shanks said kids ain’t sposed to be on ships when they’re sailin’”

“Yeah, well, you’re a little sick right now, Kiddo, and hurt to boot so Makino brought you to me since some bad people are trying to hurt you.” Buggy said carefully, tipping more water into Luffy's mouth. “Sip it now kid, you'll be sick otherwise, slow.” 

A little sniffle escaped Luffy as he rubbed at his eyes. “‘Kino gone isn't she? I can't hear her anymore and she's not here… You were last ret-res-resert. I heard Shanks tell ‘Kino if we ever needed help, big trouble help, only go to you then… something bout a promise.”

Buggy felt his heart shatter at the confession, mind thrown back to that night where they fought, where he screamed at Red to never step foot near him again unless it was to claim the One Piece and Buggy knew his brother would never. Shanks never wanted the One Piece… he kept his promise knowing how serious Buggy himself took them… but he made sure that Makino knew if they ever needed help… Buggy would help them.

He would have been mad, it would have been a show of reluctance… but he would have been relieved.  

“Resort, Kid, I was the last resort… telling you about me, telling ‘Kino to come to me would have broken a silly promise.” Buggy managed to rasped out, throat clicking. 

“Why make him promise when it makes you feel sad?” Luffy questioned. “You love Shanks, don’t you?”

“Last I saw your dad, I was angry and we both said some things we shouldn’t have.” Buggy croaked his heart aching with the pain of old memories. “But, yes , Luffy, I love Shanks very very much. He’s… He’s my Red .”

“And you're his Blue… Pai called you that or Bugs all the time…” Luffy sniffled, curling tighter into his Tio’s arms.

Buggy swallowed as he shifted on the bed, getting comfy and running his hand through Luffy's hair. “He told you all the flashy embarrassing stories, didn't he? Made him seem like a hero?” 

“No, said you saved him on all his failed adventures… told me I had to be more like you.” Luffy mumbled with a soft laugh like he didn't just drop a bomb on Buggy. “Said you were the smart one. But I ain’t smart so guess I’m doin’ a bad job. Sorry, Tio.”

“Bah, there’s different kinds of smart, Kid, you’re not doing bad at all.” Buggy forced himself to choke out. He could have a breakdown about Shanks encouraging his son to act like him later . “Don’t worry, it’ll take a bit but you’ll see Shanks sooner than you think.”

“I can’t!” Luffy nearly shouted, making Buggy flinch and scramble to keep a good hold on the rubber brat before he tumbled straight off the bed. “Pai said we’d meet again once I was a great pirate! I’m not even a pirate yet! I can’t see him, Tio, I promised! ”

“Kid, kid… easy, you're hurt, easy.” Buggy shushed. “I'm sure this one thing can be the exception. He's gonna be worried sick, no one… Makino made sure that you…” 

Seas, how was he supposed to explain this to the kid? That Makino went to her death to make sure the Marines thought he was with her too. That he had done all he could to keep him hidden, that Shanks probably already knows what happened and… fuck… fuck, fuck… Shanks probably knows what has happened to Dawn. 

Buggy you fucking flashy idiot.

Luffy stilled with his wriggling about but Buggy could still feel the way he trembled in his arms. Anxiety was a bitch no matter the age and damn if Buggy couldn’t relate. He hadn’t wanted to have to do this at all but there had been a den den number written on a piece of vivre card hidden in the band of his captain’s hat. Without being told he knew exactly where that card led and who the number was for. It was only confirmed when a small piece he kept well tucked away tried to drift towards the slightly bigger piece when he brought it into close proximity to the hat. 

It made him glad that he had clung to that small piece of his brother from their childhood. Red had always been stingy with his pieces and Buggy even more so. Only four people alive had a piece of his own after all and that was if and only if Rayleigh still kept his that he had taken and split with Roger before even giving the sheets over to him and Shanks. Immediately after that Shanks got a piece of his, because of course he did Shanks was his Red , but since then he had only ever torn a piece of his own vivre card off to give to his Left and Right hands. 

“Why don’t we call him?” Buggy said with an ease he absolutely did not feel. “Then Red can tell you himself that it’s okay.”

“What if he’s mad?! I wasn’t supposed to go on a ship yet! I broke another promise!” Luffy stated, breath coming in fast as he worked himself into another panic. “Was supposed to stay on Dawn! Pai will be mad at me!” 

Buggy cursed as Luffy slipped out of his grip, quickly hurtling after him as he ducked and weaved, body stretching unnaturally in his panic. Seas, Buggy was too tired for this and if the brat slipped or even knocked into the door and it opened then he’d fly out into the storm and then they’ll both be screwed… oh great, now he was panicking. 

“STOP!” Buggy screeched, finally giving up and splitting into pieces, flying around Luffy to reassemble and scoop him up into his arms once more. “You need to calm down kid, if you slip and hurt yourself more then your pai is gonna be mad at me. He’s not gonna be mad at you Luffy, I promise. He’s going to be so flashily relieved.” 

“But I broke the promise , Blue!” Luffy keened as he hid his face against Buggy’s neck. 

“Look, you were sick and sleeping right? Makino brought you to me and I took you out to sea on my pirate ship.” Buggy said heart twinging at the knowledge the world government was making him and eventually Shanks break their own promise about kids on ships. “So because you were asleep until just a bit ago you didn’t even know! You can’t exactly jump off, you’ll sink! And you didn’t come aboard with the intent to be a pirate right now. We’re not even pirating! Just taking a nice cruise to meet your dad in the New World is all!”

He began to pace as he rambled, holding the kid close to his chest, feet firmly still by the bed as he did so. Seas this was a mess, this world was a complete and utter shit show of chaos that Buggy wanted no part of. Was it too much to ask for a peaceful pirating life? Sighing, he stopped and looked down to see Luffy fast asleep and Buggy resisted the urge to rub his eyes. If it wasn’t for the splotches of red on his cheeks and the tear tracks Buggy would have sworn this entire night was a sleep deprovision nightmare. 

Well, this might work better in his favour. Even with a white den den the lines could still be listened in on. If Luffy was awake he would have spoken and it would have been a risk, but asleep? Buggy could call his brother and show the kids face as proof. 

He took a seat at his dresser and pulled the old beloved white den den from his pen, dialling the number that was tucked in the beloved straw hat with shaky hands and hopefully a neutral face. His stomach churned as his heart rabbited painfully in his chest, waiting for the call to connect. 

The face that answered the call was unfamiliar to Buggy and set into a vicious scowl. ‘Who is this and how did you get this number?’

“I need to talk to Red.” Buggy drawled. 

‘He’s currently not taking any calls at this time.’ The voice stated and Buggy quickly and mentally ran through the wanted posters of his brother's crew and realised that the person he was speaking with was his first mate. 

“Look, tell him Blue needs to speak with him. It’s Urgent. Hibiscus Silver urgent.” Buggy stressed and waited, he listened to the chaos over the other side of the line, the shouting until it became dead silence. 

He waited and waited, time fleeting away from him till he blinked and his brother's visage stared back at him through the snail. If the Den Den version of his brother looked rough then Buggy didn’t want to see what he looked like in person. 

‘Blue, my Blue ? Is that you Bugs?’ Shanks rasped out, voice a wreck of a thing. 

Swallowing Buggy nodded. “It’s me, Red.” 

Shanks sucked in a sharp breath, near a sob. ‘ Why… Why now? What… You told Beck, Hibiscus Silver… How do I know it’s really you?’

“We came up with the code system the day Pops caught us trying to steal Yui’s good whiskey from storage to see how much it would take to get a Sea King drunk and made us clean the entire ship with toothbrushes.” Buggy replied immediately. 

‘ It took forever ,’ Shanks said with a raspy whine. ‘ Why are you calling, Blue? ’

“An interesting speck of green showed up on my doorstep last week with some treasure they’d been protecting for you in tow.” Buggy said as he carefully carded a hand through Luffy’s hair. “Didn’t take you for one to just forget your hat in my neck of the woods like that, Red.”

A sharp inhale, a clear whimper that tore at Buggy's heart. ‘ I thought… I thought it would be safe there. Supposed to be… Blue… is… please Blue… I've lost my Anchor and I feel adrift…’   

Buggy shushed his brother gently, lifting Luffy up enough for the den den to capture his features. His brother let out a cry the moment he realised, one that Buggy has never heard in his life. It was wrecked and relieved, so full of emotion that it firmly cemented that what Buggy was currently doing was the right thing. Risk or not, his brother had seen what happened and was mourning. 

‘ Blue… seas Blue…” Shanks choked out.

“Red, can't talk for much longer, too risky. But best be sure I'll be delivering the hat to the old hands, it's a little damaged, green did their best. I’ll be waiting for you there so move as quickly as you can because I swore to keep your treasure until you took it personally.” Buggy managed to get out, tongue tripping over the words. “Be safe, you flashy idiot.” 

‘Understood. We’ll set course now.’ Shanks croaked and Buggy fought down a wince at the tears in the snail’s eyes. He never liked it when his Red cried. “Blue, thank you. Be safe. Protect my treasure until I can.’

“Always Red, with Hibiscus levels.” Blue replied firmly, deadly serious. 

‘ ... thank you, brother.’ Red whispered before ending the call. 

Buggy wiped away the lone tear, heart warm and cuddled the boy in his arms closer. This miracle brat of his brother’s that had somehow done the unthinkable. Blue had given up hope long ago about hearing Red call him brother again, yet there it was. He had his brother back, he had his family back, the only family that still mattered, no matter the old hurts between them. 

It was another week and a half of sailing before they reached Drum and Buggy was religious with Luffy’s medication and supplements in the mean time. There were a few problems because Luffy now had enough energy to wake up but not to be active and it was clearly killing him to be stuck in bed or on Buggy’s hip so much. 

It also worried Buggy too, because this child was a D and it took a lot to keep a D down so low. It was getting harder and harder to shake the memory of his Father sitting hunched over in his cabin after a big fight, how it took him longer and longer to get out of bed most days on the rare few times Buggy and Shanks saw it… harder and harder to ignore the voice telling him that his little rubber brained nephew was sick like his father, that he would lose this kid. 

Drum was just as cold as it was the last time he was here and he made sure to apply more layers than strictly necessary, especially after Sorena came to him and reminded him that Luffy was rubber and it didn't fare well in cold climates, especially if the kid couldn't move as he should. 

“Tio is cold!” Luffy shivered when Buggy let the brat escape his cocoon of warmth because of the complaints, huffing a laugh the moment he jumped back in and tucked his head back under Buggy's chin, little arms and legs stretching around his torso to hold on.

He really wasn't sure what he was going to do the day he had to hand Luffy back to his brother. It had been so long that Blue had any form of familial contact that it hurt, well, it did. He knew his skin hunger grew worse and he ignored it, like all else, but his little brat was affectionate. Maybe he might just stay in Paradise, tell Red to visit often… cuddle his Red and Sunshine. 

“Well, if I didn't know better I would have said the Line dried up since Gol-Silvers Blue is at my door.” Kurhea greeted as she opened the door, taking the crate of plum wine with a grateful nod. “It must be Calypso drawing you both here within such a short time, I saw that brother of yours just over a year ago. The idiot didn't keep his amputation site clean and it got infected beyond his own doctor's knowledge. Fever was high, dangerously so.” 

Buggy swallowed, amputation? His head jerked as he felt Luffy's breath hitch and body spasm before a low whimper left him. “Was my fault, ‘m sorry, Tio, I didn’ mean for Pai to get hurt! I didn’!”

“Easy, kid. I’m sure you didn’t. My idiot brother can tell me how he forgot haki exists when we see him. Alright? Nobody is mad at you little one.” Buggy soothed, swaying his body to help. “We’re not here to talk about Red anyway but to let Dr. Kureha look you over. You’ve been staying awake longer so we probably need to adjust your doses again. Alright?”

Buggy took time to explain everything Luffy had gone through as well as hand over Crocus and Sorena's reports. Sorena’s was a bit thicker but she’d been looking after Luffy since Makino handed him over to Buggy’s care compared to Crocus’s one day. The fact that Crocus managed to log enough things to justify his own divider in Luffy’s medical file entirely came from the fact that the old man actually knew what to look for and document in handling a D’s care. Sorena was learning, but it had nothing on Crocus’s years as a doctor to a D from a line that could rival Luffy’s. 

Kureha hummed reading through the file as Buggy turned his attention to actually calming Luffy down further. Whatever happened to cause Shanks to lose a limb clearly still upset him and it wasn’t just the shaking that had him thinking that. Luffy had asked Sorena questions a mile a minute each time she checked on him and even listened somewhat intently as she walked him through each stage of his check ins. Buggy didn’t hold any thoughts that the boy wanted any real experience in the medical field but it was clear that he was interested in it more in the observation type of way. 

When asked Luffy had launched into tales about Shanks’ doctor and how he had taught him what plants and such were safe and which would give him tummy aches. The lessons apparently continued in the form of telling him not to eat raw meat without cooking it at least a bit but when he did want something raw fish was alright except for a few kinds. Learning that his nephew was feral enough that sometimes he actually wanted things raw was somehow both a shock and entirely unsurprising. A shock because who the hell let a child eat raw meat to find he liked the taste and unsurprising, well the brat was a fucking Monkey D. 

Not that Buggy would ever call the brat that out loud again. He had a new scar forming on his shoulder from the brat’s inhumanly sharp teeth to go along with the screeched out information that he was a Benn not a Monkey. If anyone could understand the thought behind a chosen name and family it was Buggy… and maybe the kid’s other biological parent because he remembered how Dragon hung around Coyote a lot when Garp showed up for brawls when he was still healing after Buggy and Shanks busted him out of his cell. 

It honestly gave him a migraine trying to figure out just what other D Dragon decided to procreate with and if it was Coyote then that bloodline in general was… monstrous. This little feral child he held dearly in his arms was claimed or related to some of the most notorious people on the seas. Somehow, somewhere Buggy knew his captain was laughing himself sick. 

“They did good, I'll need to see his wounds but everything that you have been giving him has been exactly what he needs.” Kureha hummed as she knocked back another bottle of plum wine. “Though, if he is who they say he is, now that he's awake he'll need more protein, hope you and yours like hunting, he's going to need to eat Monkey D levels of meat.” 

That… That was going to be a nightmare and an issue, there weren't enough animals on Drum to supply that nor the size of them. Buggy has actually seen the animals on Dawn and anything like that is Sea King, Little Garden or… Hmmm, Great Bass was close, it was uninhabited because of the wild animals and treacherous forests. That would have to be their next stop.

Mohji was going to be displeased, but he was one of the best hunters in the East Blue and on the crew besides himself and Luffy. Buggy has never seen the kid hunt but it wouldn't surprise him if he was good at it, just a feeling. 

There had been some things that the kid had let slip unknowingly over the last week that had Buggy taking note of. Things that he knows are going to piss off Red because he's pissed off. 

Sighing he began to unwrap Luffy from his person, noting still that he had yet to let go, in fact he seemed to have pressed himself closer to Buggy's frame. “Oh no getting out of this kid, Kureha will be quick then you can bundle up again.” 

Luffy let out a small whine just to cling harder to his frame and Buggy couldn’t really blame him. It was still cold even inside with a fire blazing and the kid was still recovering. That didn’t mean however that the brat was going to get out of a check up with the best doctor in the whole of the grand line just because the air was a bit nippy. So, with a huff Buggy coated his hands in armament to pry away the kid just to freeze in place when Luffy flinched hard. In the next moment Luffy was unwinding himself without further prompting and obediently going over to climb onto the exam table in Kureha’s small home office.  

“Sorry, Tio.” Luffy murmured, only confusing Buggy further until he saw the kid rub at the top of his head like he was chasing away the sting of a phantom hit. 

Oh, hell no . Garp had been on his shit list for years for taking Roger to his death and just sitting there. No, he didn’t care that that was what his Captain had wanted. Fuck not wanting to die withering in a bed. They were kids and they all left them to rot when Roger’s head hit the ground . But to know Garp was using haki on his own grandson who was so tiny Buggy was still guessing he was 5 maybe 6 years old, he still needed to ask the brat to know for sure, sent his blood boiling in a way that hadn’t happened since that time he put a knife through Teach’s knee for leering too long at his Red. 

He knew personally how hard Garp's ‘Fist of Loves’ hurt and that's because Dragon dodged and Buggy was behind him. If Garp did that on Dragon from a young age no wonder the man fucked off and started a revolution. Though, Buggy would have just gone with patricide. Much less time intensive than an entire fucking revolution. 

Honestly now that Buggy thought about it, Coyote and Dragon are also on his shit list because how did Garp of all people get this child? Who looked at that man and thought, ‘ yes he is perfect to raise a child?’... but that's beside the flashy fucking point, the point is that Garp, the Hero of the Marines used haki to hit his grandson and no one objected to it… 

He stayed silent as Luffy sat still and had his wounds tended to and wrapped once more, continued to stay silent as Kureha gave him a whole list of foods rich in the protein he would need to consume to keep up with his fruit and metabolism. It was only when they were half way back to the ship that Buggy stopped, leaning back against a cropping to stare at his still quiet nephew. 

“You know I would never hurt you kid, not ever .” Buggy stated firmly. “The fact you knew what coated my hands and that it represents pain…”

“It’s okay, Tio. ‘m used to it!” Luffy chirped quietly. “Doesn’ even hurt that bad anymore!”

Bile burned his throat at the words, at the insinuation that he had been hit with armament enough times it didn't hurt much… Never mind that the kid had said anymore… “No, Luffy, you need to listen to me, okay? Listen, this is important, straw hat levels, alright?” 

“You should have never been hit with Armament Haki at your age, let alone hit at all.” Buggy stressed the moment he had Luffy's undivided attention.

“… but Gramps said it would make me stronger?” Luffy said confusion clear in his voice. “He only hits harder if I don't act like it hurts a lot worse than it does. He usually threw me in the ravine with Luna and her pack on those days too.”

Fuck Garp… Buggy hoped that the man choked on his Justice and that Davy Jones dragged him to the very depths of his locker. Buggy would make sure that man died hurting and in a death unworthy of a D. He wouldn't even give a flying flashy fuck if he himself died in the process, it would be worth it. 

“At least he only tied me to the balloons once! That made ‘Kino mad. I think everything turned red for her like it does me sometimes?” Luffy said with a shrug. “I don’t know why though. I mean I was really hungry and thirsty and wound up a couple islands over before I figured out how to get down without dying but I was okay! Really! I heal super fast! The sunburn only lasted a few days after Gramps brought me home!”

Did… oh hell no… Buggy wanted to cry, scream and curl up in a ball at all the information the kid just told him. He needed to call Red. Hell at this point Buggy was ready to put aside his own troubles and call Gaban. Ocean Blessed, Double D dosed and a Monkey D… just how young did a Monkey D start to rage!? 

“How… how many times have things turned red for you, Luffy?” Buggy asked after a moment. “Do you remember how old you were?”

“A few times, I think? I’m always extra tired after so I don’t remember them all well.” Luffy said with a shrug. “People were mean sometimes and they called me a monster and stuff since I could barely walk. I was five the first time. The worst one was last year when somebody hurt ‘Kino, I was seven then! I accidentally hurt Pai and Da before I calmed down… he stopped me from killing the man who hurt ‘Kino and I didn’t like that.”

Right… the kid was seven. He was severely malnourished and small for his age, was it his fruit? He shook his head at that thought, that wasn't important right now, no, what was important was the fact that this kid was five when he hit that Monkey Rage part of his gene pool. That the villagers called him a monster and… Calypso bless him, he needs a holiday after this, therapy… he's gonna make Red pay for it all. Which now that he was thinking about it Luffy probably needed both even more than he did because fucking Garp. 

“Tio, are you okay?” Luffy questioned when Buggy stayed silent for a few minutes longer. “You… you feel sad and mad and… I didn’ mean to, Tio! I won’t talk about Gramps if it upsets you!”

“Kid, who looked after you?” Buggy asked, throat clicking. 

“Well ‘Kino did sometimes, Gramps made me spend more time in the jungle after Shanks left.” Luffy explained and Buggy let his eyes close in frustration. “‘M sorry Tio for making you sad.” 

“Okay, now let me tell you something. You don't need to apologise to me Luffy, not for this. Your flashy gramps shouldn't have done what he did at all and I know for a fact that your Shanks is going to be so mad about it, he left you there to be safe and loved.” Buggy said firmly, never taking his eyes off Luffy's, no matter how much that gaze made him squirm. 

“Not only that, your other vovô is going to be mad, but not at you.” That was going to be an understatement, for the last few weeks he hadn't really thought of his Pops and how he'll take suddenly becoming a grandfather… but Buggy had a feeling he's gonna be amused watching the reaction. 

“Other Vovô?” Luffy asked, eyes wide and slightly petrified. “He's not gonna make me fight monkeys and throw me into the forests or or…”

“No, no… he may yell but he won't hit you ever. Not out of anger. He's… he's the one who raised Red and I.” Buggy explained as he gathered himself once more. They needed to leave, it would take three days to get to Great Bass. “If he does, then you tell your Tio okay and I'll make sure it never happens again, I swear on Calypso and the seas to you Luffy.” 

Luffy nodded, burrowing further into the warmth of his tio’s coats. He didn’t get it… not really anyway. Gramps training hurt there was no denying that but it did make him stronger. Without it he probably wouldn’t have been able to help Makino when she was trapped so that they could get to the ocean. So long in sea water had made him pass out not counting that he was hurt before then too but he had helped . Makino had told him so before everything went dark for so long. 

For his part, Buggy just left the kid to his thoughts as he trudged steadily through the snow to get back to his ship. The man knew all too well how confusing it could be to go from a kid mostly raising himself to suddenly having adults that gave a damn about your well-being. It was a wild experience to him as a brat and feral street rat he may have been, he never had to go tromping through forests with grand line sized beasts to hunt and kill his own dinner. Luffy from what he’d gathered so far had. 

It was a thought that hurt to think about but maybe getting to terrorize the wildlife on Great Bass would help to perk the kid up again. That’s what Rayleigh had done with Captain anytime he got too sulky or worse bored. It extended to Rouge too once she started to stay with them more than she sailed around bounty hunting. Hunting was a good way to perk up any D from his own life experiences and none of the ones he grew up around seemed as wild as Luffy. 

The first time he noticed that had thrown his head in a loop because he’d become adjusted to the normal feeling level of Luffy’s haki. So when the brat actually started getting better enough for his haki to begin returning to what his normal actually felt like? Yeah, Buggy panicked a bit waking up from a peaceful sleep to the feeling of a large predator in his room that wasn’t Richie just to find his nephew staring at him with eyes that seemed to glow a pale purple in the dark as he calmly chirped out that he was hungry. 

Buggy had never fed someone so fast.

Chapter Text

Arriving on Great Bass was a nerve-wracking thing, his scouts had gone and found another unmarked vessel on the other side, but no matter how far Buggy threw his observation he couldn't see anyone. It made him nervous and more so when Luffy tried to throw himself off the ship to explore.

Hunting with the brat was something he never wanted to experience again, nor did Mohji if the expression on his face was anything to go by. Luffy had been brutal on some of his kills, especially on some of the more vicious animals that nearly hurt one of the others in their small hunting party. As if remembering the warnings Shanks’ doctor had given him, Luffy had dragged Mohji and Buggy back to the massive river that wound lackadaisically through the forest so he could gorge himself on raw fish while the cooks butchered his earlier kills. He had initially tried to wander off alone clearly not used to having actual adult supervision but Buggy had been quick to shut that right the fuck down. 

There was an unknown somewhere on the island and to make matters worse it was an unknown Buggy couldn’t sense. Seeing as Roger had proclaimed Buggy to have one of the most sensitive observation haki he had ever encountered, that was saying something. They also made sure to keep that information locked down tight so the only people alive that knew that little tidbit were those that remained of the Roger pirates… and Coyote because the man wouldn’t let the matter drop until it was explained just how his preteen rescuers knew he was knocking on death’s door. All that to say, Buggy was absolutely not letting his nephew wander anywhere without supervision on Great Bass. The kid had yet to see him commit a murder and Buggy wanted to keep it that way. 

His nephew had seen only the side of pirate life that Shanks and Buggy had portrayed, the fun side, one full of adventures and great battles. They had bypassed the gore, the seedy side of pirate life and the cut throat actions to survive. Is it bad? Probably. But Buggy had planned to speak frankly about the life of piracy when Luffy got older, when he could process it better. Buggy didn't want his nephew any more traumatised. 

Laughter left his lips as he laid back against the tree, watching Luffy and Richie play in the field just within the treeline of where they anchored. The poor lion was feeling just as cooped up as Luffy being on the ship for so long. For seas sake, Richie loved hunting with the brat, both moving like the predators they were in tandem. Though, Buggy was pretty sure his crew would never forget Luffy hunkering down next to their first kill and eating the heart. 

A flash had Buggy standing, knives drawn as he felt a Voice roar in panic from nowhere heading straight for his nephew. A snarl of his own left his lips as he surged forward just as a random fucking marine of all people grabbed Luffy in his arms and turned to flee. 

Not on his watch!

The dagger flew fast, splitting down the middle and embedding in the man's shoulders, his eyes were wide as he turned to find where it had come from; only Buggy had split. He formed behind the Marines back, fist swinging before he could even register Buggy was there and sent him careening to the ground as his free hand yanked Luffy out of his arms and tossed him back towards Richie. 

“You will not touch him!” He seethed as he sent a powerful kick to the man's chest, sending him crashing back into the solid tree trunks of the forest.

“Give him to me, pirate!” the man replied as he recovered, drawing a sword and letting his coat fall. 

“Tio! Don’t kill him!” Luffy called as he perched himself calmly on Richie’s back. “It’s just Uncle Bo!”

Buggy snapped his head around to Luffy for a second, splitting past the sword that the so-called uncle tried to slice him with. “I don't give a flashy fuck! Makino made me swear on Calypso, Davy Jones and everything in between that I'd hand you to Shanks. Does he look like your pai!? No? Well then, he can't have you!”

“I don’t care if you beat him up! He’s not mine and he’s a dick!” Luffy chirped. “Just don’t kill ‘Kino’s big brother! He’s Gramps… uh… first mate!”

Buggy raised his brows at that, the words sinking in and he turned towards the marine once more, still splitting with each slash, dodging the armament with ease and frowned. He looked nothing like Makino, nor did he feel like a Monkey D or even a D in general. “ Enough!” 

It had been a long time since Buggy had to fight like this, splitting and focusing on reformation while holding armament on his limbs, using them to distract while his hands and everything else beat this flashy idiot into the dirt. In the end Buggy stood victorious, chest heaving and body drained as his entire dagger set dug painfully into the Marine's flesh.

“Shishishi! That was cool, Tio!” Luffy cheered. “Ya fight good!”

Buggy shot his nephew a look before turning to the Marine laying at his feet, this was Garps second? This poor excuse? Was this man also a contributor to Luffy's abuse? He better fucking hope not because if Buggy found out otherwise well the promise was not to kill him now, nothing about later.  “You're lucky Luffy asked me not to kill you, so very lucky and you tell Garp the Fist that if I ever find out that he hit my nephew again then Shanks will be the least of his flashy problems. He knows what I've done and can do, knows who trained me with blades and raised me!” 

“Give me back my nephew.” Bogard snarled back, eyes flashing even in his battered state. “What’s a pirate like you even doing with him?”

“Like I said Makino brought him to me.” Buggy said with a roll of his eyes. “And I am taking him to my flashy idiot brother that adopted him.”

“Monkey D. Luffy, get over here right now .” Bogard snapped dragging himself to his feet. “Your grandfather is beside himself!”

Buggy laughed right in the man's face as he stepped out of the terror radius, just waiting for his nephew to slingshot and bite . “Oh you're a whole new level of stupid ain't ya? Been with the kid for a few weeks and already I know he hates that name, well, you should know better.” 

“I’m a Benn !” Luffy snarled, making Buggy whirl around in shock at the brief flash of conqueror’s haki and the fact that Luffy had yet to move from his spot on Richie’s back. “I’m not going anywhere with you or Gramps! I’m going to my Pai! At least he doesn’t work for people that want me dead!”

Shaking off the shock, Buggy turned back to the marine. “You heard the kid, now fuck off flashily.”

“You don’t even know where Dragon is you ungrateful brat!” Bogard snapped. 

“Who said anything about Chichi?” Luffy asked with a wrinkled nose. “‘m going to my Pai not my Chichi!”

Buggy had enough of this, he quickly shot Richie a look, the lion smart enough to know that he needed to leave and take the kid back with him. He then shot Luffy a look when he started to complain but didn't try to climb off the lion. When he knew the kid was out of hearing range Buggy turned to the Marine, kicking him back down viciously, taking satisfaction in the snap of the fool's leg.

“Now, I'm going to tell you this once out of respect I have for your sister, who died to protect that kid.” Buggy whispered as he leant over the downed man, dagger at his throat. “That kid is not a Monkey D, hasn't been one since the Ocean blessed him. He's the son of Akagami no Shanks. Now if I have issues between here and my brother, I'll know who to blame and then I'll come find you and trust me you do not want that .” 

The man spat at Buggy. “I'm not afraid of you clown, everyone knows you're a coward.”

“Did you take the time to think that's what I want them to believe? I'm Gol-Silvers Buggy, son of Gol D Roger and Silvers Rayleigh. I was a gutter rat till they adopted me at seven, and it was Hibiscus Rouge who taught me everything .” Buggy chuckled darkly before standing up and staring down at the poor excuse at his feet. “Remember my warning and believe me, if it isn't heeded, there is no place to hide from me, not with my fruit, not with my connections nor my family.”  

Years of hiding, years of keeping himself out of the hands of the Marines because that was his Ma’s wish, a promise they had. It seemed Buggy was breaking a lot of promises lately, yet, the usual anxiety with that thought did not bubble up. How could he regret that? He'd rather the life of his nephew and his brother back than a silly promise. He loved his crew, really he did, but he missed his family. 

With those parting words, Buggy struck and knocked the marine out before rushing after his nephew. He had wanted to give the kid more time to hunt since he clearly couldn’t go as hard or catch as much as he could in perfect health but that was out the window now that a member of the marines knew Luffy lived. Luffy had said it himself, the marine Buggy left in a crumpled heap wasn’t his but instead Garp’s meaning Buggy had exactly zero trust for him, Makino’s older brother or not. Mostly because ya know fuck Garp. 

He’d panic about breaking one of the most important Rules later when Luffy was asleep and hope that the knockout and multiple broken bones would keep the marine out of commission for at least four to five days so he could have a decent lead on what would now become a convoluted game of keep away with Garp so he could hand Luffy over to his brother. It meant he’d probably have to hop around a bit more just to buy extra time but that only meant that hopefully he wouldn’t have to wait on Sabaody long before Shanks arrived to claim his son once more. 

Buggy wasn’t too keen on spending an extended amount of time around his Pops , Rayleigh , after all these years… after being abandoned on Loguetown with no family to fall back on and the cooling corpse of the man he’d called dad . 

“Pack up, we leave immediately. I don't care if you're not ready, or don't want to go, Garp the Fist will know where we are soon!” Buggy snapped at his crew, not even stopping till he snatched his nephew off Richie and held him close, yanking a piece of meat off his chef to hand the child.

His crew scurried around like crabs trying to get everything packed up and fast. Buggy knew they would get it done, that no sign of them would be left bar the foot tracks on the beach. He immediately began to look over Luffy knowing full well he was okay, but that bastard had his hands on him, he was paranoid, okay?

“I'm okay, Tio, promise.” Luffy tried to comfort. 

“Kid, thanks to you, I feel like I owe my Pops and several of my uncles an apology.” Buggy chuckled relieved, he swore he could feel himself turning grey prematurely. 

Luffy let out a loud laugh, the expression familiar to him. “Shanks used to say the same!” 

“Of course your flashy Pai said the same, he's the one that always got us in trouble.” Buggy chuckled as he took a seat at his Captain's chair, Luffy perched on the arm. He was a little dirty, a bit bloody from messy hunting but there was no scratch or bruise made by a person on him.

It didn't take long for them to cast off, his crew working double time to catch the wind and a good current to put them and the island as far away from them as possible. He owes them a holiday and a good treasure hunt after all this mess is done, but he's so proud of them.

The new detour would add a week's worth of detours onto their very tight schedule but it couldn’t be avoided, not unless Buggy wanted to face Garp and right now that's the last thing he wanted. Oh, Buggy had plans for that man but he'd like to do it while Luffy was safe with Rayleigh and where Shanks would be at his side like old times. 

Seas, he hoped for an easy journey.

So, of course, it doesn't. It's three days later that Buggy is woken with the sound of alarm and cannon fire. His door burst open as he shot out of bed, throwing himself between his nephew and whoever the fuck just barged in with daggers ready, only to see Mohji and Richie. Thank fuck.

“Marines?” Buggy demanded as he grabbed a bag of Muggy Balls and his daggers. 

Mohji shook his head. “Another crew, unknown Jolly.” 

Buggy whirled and caught his nephew as he went to race out the door. “You are staying here, under no circumstances are you to leave this room, I'm serious Luffy.”

“But Tio, I can help! You and the others have helped me with my fruit and how to fight!” Luffy pouted. 

“Then what will happen to Richie!? He's scared of fighting, I thought you'd keep him safe!” Mohji began to cry and Buggy could kiss that man, especially when he saw that determined glint in Luffy's eyes. “What if they try to steal him!?”

“Oh! I can make sure Richie is safe Tio Mo! Make sure no one gets him!” Luffy jumped down and stood in front of Richie who was playing it up with a fighting stance and if Buggy wasn't in such a hurry he'd take a photo for his collection. 

“Good kid, thank you!” Mohji exclaimed, real tears in his eyes now at the address. 

Buggy shot his nephew and then the lion a look before racing out the door, the deck was in chaos, crews fighting and his own daggers flew with deadly accuracy as he saw several of his men overwhelmed. Only one face was familiar and only because Buggy had seen him before as a child trying to join Roger’s crew. 

The man was sleazy as they come, eyeing his Red like meat that had Buggy nearly stabbing him and Roger kicking him so far off the Oro he was a mere speck in the sky. Obviously he started his own crew, pity they never got past paradise, more so that they were competent to survive. 

“Oh, so it is your ship, red nose,” the man chuckled as he caught sight of him, earning a snarl in response. 

“NOSE! RED NOSE! WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY NOSE!?” He screeched on cue, letting his fury flow through him. 

Anger clouded judgement but playing the angry one always made people underestimate their opponent thinking they had the upper hand from the get go. It always worked in Buggy's favour, just like it was now, he could see it in the pleased eye of the dumbass before him. See when overcome by actual anger people become sloppy and it’s that much easier to figure out a way past a sloppy guard. 

Buggy feigned being adequate at fighting, dodging the swipes or letting him hit but splitting between each strike. It's not like the fucker was paying attention besides gloating.

“I see that brother of yours grew up very well, yet here you are. Can't hide behind daddy's legs now can you? Pity I missed the execution of Gold Roger, would have been a fine memory.” The idiot taunted and Buggy decided then and there, that tonight was going to be this idiot’s last night. “What such a disappointment you turned out to be, a measly 15 million berri, wonder what daddy dearest would think of that.” 

Buggy grinned wide, a replica of his Mama's, one he spent all his life to replicate while Shanks tried to replicate their father's. Laughter spilled from his lips, finally dropping his guard as he Sparta kicked the fucker back to his ship hard. It was satisfying to see the main mast snap, even more so to hear that man scream. 

“You should have kept my father out of your mouth, and it was GOL D. ROGER, use the name correctly if you're gonna use it at all.” Buggy said with a snarl, walking along the railing of the Big Top and the ropes with ease as he eyed the fool. “Secondly, Captain would have been pleased if it was our dream. Third…” 

“ Tio, watch out!” Luffy's conqueror’s cry caused Buggy to whirl, just in time to see the pirate about to shoot him in the back to drop dead and a bullet to smack in the middle of his nephew's chest, his body colliding with the deck and kept rolling till he slammed into the mast unmoving. 

“Kid!” Buggy cried as he rushed to his nephew’s side. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, don’t do me like this brat.”

There was no blood, none, but his nephew was still not moving, his hands shaking too much to feel the beat of his heart under the soft rubber flesh at his nephew's neck… nor could he see his chest moving. 

Vaguely he could feel himself screaming, for Sorena or in general, he couldn't tell you, all he knew was that in that moment, all he could hear was the broken crack of his brother's voice thinking his son was dead. Rage, rage the likes Buggy has very rarely felt surged through him as he turned to stare at the fucking bastard who thought Buggy was weak. It was him who caused his nephew's death, his man who shot him… Doesn't matter if that shot was meant for him … 

“ You.” He snarled as he stalked forward slowly, cutting down any of his men with a touch of his hand. “ You did this! YOU CAUSED THIS! Throw his men back on his ship.” 

His crew didn't hesitate, grabbing the pieces and terrified filth and tossed them back on their ship before fleeing from his sight. The confidence from before was gone, his face was pale and terrified. Good.

“ Your death was going to be quick, but I changed my mind. You and your men don't deserve that.” He whispered low as he landed with a thump before him and let his fruit wash over him, taking his arms and legs. “May Davy Jones have mercy on you, because Calypso won't.”

With those parting words and without looking back, he pushed his fruit to the limit and split the ship to pieces and letting the ocean have them. Never had he been more glad that he awakened his fruit young or that would have taken all of his energy, energy he needed because if Luffy… if that brat… how was he going to explain this to Shanks?

His crew were silent, cleaning up the mess of the attack and what disaster his muggy bombs caused, not a single one of them looking his way and it only made the grief and terror in his throat double, making the bile churn. His eyes flickered to the spot where Luffy last was and seeing it empty but still no blood… that was his only saving hope… or did Luffy's devil fruit make him completely different, parmacia fruits were strange because it's been a very long time since Buggy himself had seen his own blood. 

Knowing his crew was more than capable of handling the clean up and minor repairs he rushed to his quarters. Sorena always treated Luffy there because of how uncomfortable the kid seemed every time he’d seen a doctor while conscious. It was a small thing to indulge that Luffy hadn’t even asked for himself but rather was just something Buggy had noticed and had no issues accommodating. 

“Sor, how is he?” Buggy asked frantically as he rushed into the room. The next part of his sentence trailed off when he couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud. “Is he…?”

“He’s alive, Captain. Alive and uninjured besides a nasty bruise.” Sorena said, easily making Buggy choke back a sob of utter relief. “I think the flare of conqueror’s and subsequent adrenaline just made his body crash a bit. He is still sick after all. We need to take better care to keep that in mind despite how energetic he seems.”

“Thank the seas…” Buggy wheezed as he sat beside his small nephew. “Any ideas on when he might wake?” 

“Not til morning at least, that’s for sure.” Sorena said as she looked over some charts in her hand. “His levels are reading closer to what he was at the first time he woke up so I wouldn’t be surprised if he spent all day tomorrow asleep, possibly into the next as well. He took down four on his own before calling out that warning but in doing so set back his progress significantly.”

Buggy winced at the news despite not being able to bring himself to be surprised at the news. He had already been braced for there to be at least one major setback in the kid, Luffy ’s, recovery. He needed to stop doing that… thinking of Luffy as just some kid his brother adopted, like the tiny ball of feral sunshine didn't have Buggy wrapped around his little finger just as tightly as he did Shanks. Luffy was his world… a bright spot that he thought he’d lost forever when he lost his family… a bright spot that was giving Buggy his family back. 

“Thank you Sor,” Buggy rasped as he fell into the chair, burying his face into the mattress, hand firmly resting over Luffy’s heart and taking comfort in the steady beat.

Calypso bless, this kid was going to send him to an early grave. Buggy knew that he would never get that image of Luffy bouncing across the deck unmoving out of his head. He knew without a doubt that this will never be uttered to Shanks, his brother must never find out about it or it would be Buggy's head. 

It was bad enough that Luffy would still be injured by the time they made it to Sabaody. Even before this incident Buggy had been on the receiving end of some heavy duty pouting from Luffy that he decidedly did not like that he was healing so much slower than normal. Not that Buggy could not blame the kid either; he'd be pouting if he grew up with a Monkey D healing speed just for it to suddenly not be working. 

That was a concern, was it because of the Ocean Blessing, making him more like Shanks or was it because the kid has never been this hurt before? Or an underlying issue that no one including Crocus, Sorena and Kureha found? 

Buggy shook his head and sat up, he needed to bathe, still reeking like battle was something he loathed but he couldn't tear himself away from this bed, terrified that if he took his eyes off Luffy then he'd stop breathing. Fuck it, Buggy didn't care about the pouting the kid is going to do, he's gonna keep that brat strapped to his body for the rest of this trip, fights be damned. At least on his person Buggy can make sure the kid stays alive and he can split them both with ease if need be. 

Sorena was right, it took all night and an entire day for Luffy to wake up, in the meantime Buggy managed to get himself clean even if it was with just a rag and cold water. He had a stern talking to with Richie, the lion feeling sulky and sorry had not left his room the entire time as well. He felt his eyes slip close as he curled around his nephew. 

“ Tio?” Luffy’s sleepy voice had Buggy jolting, gaze snapping down to the kid.

“You are in so much trouble, Leãozinho.” Buggy huffed trying and failing to keep the fondness out of his voice. “ What were you thinking?! Kid, you promised you would stay in the room!”

“He was going to hurt you!” Luffy yelled as he shot upright in bed. “And you actually got angry and didn’t see him. But I could hear him and it was slimy like the marines that kept hurting ‘Kino! I can’t lose you too!”

“What and you think I can lose you!?” Buggy snapped back, eyes closing briefly. “Luffy, I would have been fine. You won't lose me I promise, I'm the smart one remember?” 

Buggy really needed to ask the kid about the voices, because what Luffy has said since being woken up was starting to sound less like early awakened observation haki and sounding more and more like how Captain spoke. Red is going to have a hard time trying to teach the kid everything, though, maybe Rayleigh might step up… that thought wasn't fair of Buggy he knew, but sometimes it was hard not to be bitter. Their Pops abandoned him and Red but would gladly raise Ace?

“But I knew it wouldn't hurt me! Bullets don't work on me cause I'm rubber!” Luffy blurted out, his eyes widening and hands shooting up to cover his mouth. 

Buggy opened and closed his mouth several times at the implication. “ Luffy, are you telling me you've been shot before!? ”

“I wasn't supposed to tell!” Luffy mumbled, eyes downcast. “Dadan made me promise, cause Gramps would throw her in jail.” 

Who the fuck is Dadan? “ Where was Makino?” 

“At the bar.” Luffy said with a shrug. “I was hunting and wandered into Gray Terminal. Then Porch face nabbed me and started beating me up and shooting me, somethin’ to do with berri.”

“I was just gonna take it until he got bored since it hurt but wasn’t worse than gramps.” Luffy muttered. “But… but then he started talking bout ‘Kino and saying he’d hurt her in a bad way and everything went red.”

Buggy was silent as he processed what he was told but Luffy wasn’t done. “Makino was the nicest and she loved me even though I’m a monster. She was mine and they wanted to take her. But I wasn’ gonna let them have her. When I woke up I was with Dadan, she's a mountain bandit Gramps knows… she found me, cleaned me up and sent me back.”

He was… fuck Buggy didn't know what he felt. Well, no, that was a lie. He was curious, heartbroken… so many things that swirled and collided like a whirlpool. Garp was definitely and permanently on his shit list because what the fuck did he do that Luffy found torture not as bad as Garp? His brother was going to get a whole fucking lecture because Luffy thought himself unloved by everyone but Makino. Their promise as kids should have fucking been broken with ease for this sunshine… and what was a kid his age doing hunting by himself? Fuck, this explained how he could already hide his Voice… 

Buggy was going to have to train him with Observation; he was the best at it and he wanted his nephew to be prepared for everything and anything. His plans to return to the east would have to wait, he couldn’t leave yet. Not when Luffy seemed to have observation haki just as sensitive as his own and Buggy was also beginning to suspect the kid possessed the Voice of All Things too. His captain mentioned whispers but Luffy sometimes seemed to be listening to and laughing along with full-blown conversations that no one else could hear. He had his job cut out for him, but one he would gladly do, in a heartbeat, always.

Chapter Text

A sniffle pierced the air and dragged Buggy from his thoughts to focus fully back on the kid. “I hurt Kino on accident a couple times when things went red but she didn’t leave or even send me away to the shack gramps wanted me to live in. ‘ Kino was the only one that wouldn’t leave and I miss her.”

In an instant Buggy had Luffy in his arms, cuddling him close, his own heart aching. He knew that feeling, the fact that only one person truly loved you and you just knew that they would stay. Red was that once, until Buggy pushed him away. He was hurt and angry, his Pops, the man who held out his hand and promised him a family , who swore Buggy would never be left to the streets again, abandoned them the same day that they watched their Captain and Father die. 

Looking back it was so fucking stupid but the trauma new and old that all came rushing back at once that day made it make perfect sense for him to push his brother away. His Red couldn’t abandon him if Blue left first. So when Red started talking about the crew they’d make for themselves Buggy lashed out and Shanks’ temper broke. Red and Blue died in Loguetown with their Captain and both men thought it would stay that way before Luffy came along. 

“What about Red, Leãozinho? Your flashy papai loves you, I'm sure your other papai does too.” Buggy tried to soothe, only for Luffy to sniffle louder.

“They left me too! I ain’t talked to Shanks and Beck since they left! Everyone always leaves me!” He wailed, and oh, oh, Buggy was going to be having words with his idiot brother before Luffy saw him again. “I… I want Mama… I want my ‘Kino!”

“I know, Kid, I know.” Buggy murmured as he hugged Luffy tighter. “I’ve got you. It’s okay, just let it all out.”

Luffy’s wails echoed through the ship until his still healing body gave out on him again. Nothing Buggy did could really comfort him nor had he expected it to. His nephew had lost everything except his Straw Hat and now was being dragged across the world to be delivered to men that had already abandoned him once. Buggy was merely surprised that it had taken such a long time for the grief to set in. 

It hurt to leave the room after such an emotional breakdown from Luffy, but unlike things that could be reported in when they met on Sabaody this was a conversation Buggy needed to have with his brother now. If only so that the red head could prepare for and help fix his own part in the metric fuck ton of trauma weighing on Luffy’s little shoulders. He was also a little pissed at his brother for leaving Luffy behind without ever calling or even writing a letter. No wonder the kid thought only Makino gave a damn about him! She was the only one that stuck around to prove that she did. 

Monkey D’s watched actions more than words and loved more fiercely than any normal person could truly comprehend. The only reason Buggy had an idea of it was because the only other D lines as equally known for such intensity were the ones that had raised him. Luffy knew Garp didn’t care as much as he claimed because of the actions he’d taken. He knew Shanks loved him so much that the Ocean herself blessed them, but even that wasn’t enough to make Shanks stay. 

Makino didn’t have any of that. She loved him because he was Luffy not because he was her cousin and someone had to look after him. If that was the thought process she wouldn’t have been angry at the way Garp treated him or at the shack Luffy was supposed to call home. She stayed and more than that she cared . Buggy knew just how precious someone who would stay could be and it killed him to know Luffy had lost that already. He could only hope his brother would fix his fuck up and become someone who would stay for his little nephew. 

He locked the door to the communications room and pulled out the white den den, it usually stayed in his room but after one too many instances of Luffy trying to eat the poor things he had migrated them to the new location while his nephew was bunking with him. 

‘Blue?’ Shanks answered immediately, worry in his voice. 

“Red, I love you, I do. But by the seas you are a flashy fucking idiot!” Buggy hissed while being careful to keep his Voice masked in case Luffy woke and decided to hunt him for sport again. “Do you know what I have done for the last fucking several hours?” 

‘ I feel like answering that will get me yelled at?’ Shanks said warily. ‘ Because I know I'll get it wrong.’

“ You're going to get yelled at either way you flashy idiot! See, I spent the last few hours calming my newest crew member, the boy believes himself unloved.” Buggy hissed. “And I can’t fault him for that when everyone that has ever said they loved him left with minimal to no contact after. The only one that didn’t leave him is dead because she faced down a ship of marines alone just to be able to get the kid to me in the first place.” 

“ Anchor knows I love him! ” Shanks protested immediately. “ I made sure he knew before we set sail! I left him Dad’s hat! ”

“Oh he knows you love him.” Buggy said with a roll of his eyes. “What he doesn’t understand is why everyone that says that, Green excluded, leaves! You fucking idiot, I thought you wanted to be like Captain! But in the end you wound up pulling a Rayleigh and abandoned your kid! He thinks that because he is a monster no one will stay!”

‘... what?’ The single word was uttered so brokenly, in a voice that Buggy has heard before… the night their Captain died, before their argument. 

“You heard me, that kid has had no one besides Green who was willing to stay.” Buggy hissed. “The panic attack alone over a fucking flashy promise to not see you till he became a great pirate… What if he died? What if Green didn't make it in time? What if he never became a pirate and the Old Hunter won? You would have never seen him again! You could have stayed in contact you fucking moron.” 

“ The den den can still be hacked! Even white ones can if someone is good enough!” Shanks protested. ‘It’s not that we wanted to not hear from him!’

“Then a letter! You know uncle Mo would have made that secure!” Buggy snarled. “You have till I get there to figure out how to fix this Red.” 

“ He hadn’t learned how to read when we left…” A voice Buggy barely recognized cut in. Safe to say that was probably the husband Luffy called Beckman, Red's First Mate also finally making himself known. “We dropped the ball, we get it. We’re still figuring out the whole being parents thing too.”

“I cannot even begin to describe how much of a bullshit excuse that is.” Buggy deadpanned because he's pretty sure Makino would have read Luffy the letters. “If you don't fix this, he'll be mine. I won't let that kid continue to think that way, he just wants someone to stay. You know that feeling like I do, Red, and if you think I am joking, you know how paranoid I am and yet I made this call. Do better, be better. ”

“ You will not be stealing our son. ” Beckman snarled. “ Had we known how bad the issues were we’d have handled them. Sorry for being distracted with healing from a surgery where Anchor severed the tendons in my shooting arm during a rage and rushing my husband to a more qualified doctor after infection set in in his missing limb! ”

‘ Beck, no, don't…’ Shanks tried to stop his husband but it was too late, Buggy was furious.

“ That is no excuse! Captain was dying and he still made sure we were well!” Buggy snarled furiously. “That kid believes no one, including you , wants him! He was tortured, forced into the forest by the Old Hunter and trained like a Beast! He was SHOT! AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS THAT BECAUSE OF A WOUND HE CAUSED YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TO REMEMBER!? ” 

“ Tio?” Luffy’s muffled voice sounded from beyond the door just loud enough that the snail could pick up his voice in the background. “Tio, what’s wrong? Are you talking to Pai again? You sounded sad mad again like last time and Pai sounds guilty sad while Beck is all three… did I mess up again? I’m sorry… please don’t leave. I’ll be better. ”

Buggy shot to his feet and pulled Luffy into his arms, uncaring of the snail behind him, wrapping him tightly in a hug. “Shush now, Leãozinho, none of that. You did nothing wrong, I was just informing your pai about a few things and he brought up a few things I didn't like. I promise I'm not leaving you.” 

“Please don’t be mad at Pai and Da.” Luffy murmured as he snuggled into Buggy’s hold. “They didn’t know! I hid whenever I’d get sad. I didn’t expect them to stay after I hurt them and and they weren’t scared of me when everything went red. I know they love me, Tio. Please don’t be mad.” 

‘ Anchor,’ Shanks choked out but only Buggy could see Luffy flinch away and curl tight in his arms. 

“I didn’t mean to break our promise, Pai, I’m sorry.” Luffy sniffled softly. 

‘ Anchor, my little prince… you mean more than that promise…’ Shanks said soothingly. ‘ How are you feeling? Blue said you were able to move a bit better now.’

“I don’ like being sick…” Luffy said with a petulant pout. “I could only take down two bear when Tio let me go hunting a few days ago. Richie took down three ! I didn’t get to catch up cause Uncle Bo showed up and tried to take me but Tio beat him up. Still made us leave though so Richie is ahead on kills since we a-a-ageed fish don’t count.”

“I hate to cut this short, but we’ve been on this call for too long. Red, think about what we talked about. Also, the Old Hunter is to never be trusted, he’s to be treated with Hibiscus Silver level of suspicion.” Buggy interrupted, knowing that if they continued to talk not only would it upset everyone but they had been connected for too long and Buggy didn’t survive this long and not trust his gut. 

He didn’t even wait for his brother's reply, hanging up on him before turning his attention to Luffy who was still looking very upset. “Do you want to hear a story about your Pai?”  

At Luffy’s nod Buggy hauled the brat back down to his quarters intent on telling every embarrassing story he could think of about his flashy brother all the while ignoring the call behind him.

Turns out there were more than he’d thought to the point he filled each night of their journey to Sabaody with them for the next two weeks. The closer they crept to the archipelago the more his anxiety tried to flare up because while he had no issues with his Mama’s son he had every issue with the man raising him. He knew that Luffy picked up on it no matter how much Buggy tried to hide it, then again, he should have known better by now. His nephew was perceptive, even more so than he and Calypso bless his brother because he's going to need all the help he can get.

Shanks was just as secretive as he was, hid his emotions behind humour or pushed it down. There was going to be no escaping from this ball of sunshine and Buggy was sure as all seas that he wasn't going to let Luffy grow with the same coping mechanisms. He’d be damned if he didn’t make sure that brat didn’t grow up as emotionally adjusted as possible for a kid that was going to grow up on a pirate ship. 

It was night when they finally reached Sabaody, Luffy was dead asleep after Buggy had been teaching him more ways to help his Observation and Buggy took advantage of that. He strapped Luffy to his person once more, heart warming at how much Luffy trusted him that he didn't wake because the kid was an extremely light sleeper, many of his crew have gotten bitten for trying to wake or ruffle his hair. It had been so long since someone trusted him like this. 

He could sense his brother in the distance, Voice worried and restless, still unaware that Buggy was here. Good. He had suppressed his and Luffy’s Voice just before Red’s range and kept it up, he'll only drop it the moment they were wherever the hell Rayleigh shacked himself up. The cloak Buggy donned was a dark blue and raggedy, perfect to blend into shadows and be overlooked, it was a choice that made him seem like a street urchin and the hood deep enough to cast shadows across his face and hide his hair. 

He’d never liked Sabaody. The place just made his skin crawl something fierce and he’d like very much to not be here as quickly as he could manage. Finding Shakky’s Bar was easy, the noise was loud but he could also sense Rayleigh and Shanks, both dripping with anxiety. 

The door creaked loudly, stilling the pirates inside and drawing eyes to him. The cheery mood was immediately gone, every pair of hands jolting to their weapons. The first look at his brother for the first time in years hurt. Red sat at the bar, face unshaven and eyes dark from sleepless nights and grief, the man beside him was just as bad. It seemed neither of them had a good night's rest for weeks.

“If you shoot me, I will be very unhappy.” Buggy stated firmly as he raised his hands and lowered his hood. He specifically eyed the one that had trained a gun at him from under his table. He was not in the mood to kill a bitch but, seas damn it, he would. “Especially after all the effort I took to get here safely and the sheer trauma of being on the Line again.”

“ Blue! ” Shanks gasped, shoving away from the bar to stumble over to him. In the flurry of motion the black cloak around his shoulders fell away revealing an armless sleeve that had Buggy’s heart freezing in his chest. 

“ Red…” Buggy choked out as he caught the man, his eyes trapped on the knotted sleeve. “ Red… your arm!”

“ It's fine, it's worth it, a sacrifice I’d do all again if it saved Anchor.” Shanks rasped as he went to hug his brother, only to stop as Buggy stepped away, hurt flickering across his features.

“You'll wake him.” Buggy explained as he lifted the cloak from his shoulders to reveal the swath of clothing holding Luffy to him, Makino’s scarf curled tight in his hands while her shawl was tucked tightly around him. “The little terror is bitey, Red. Half my crew, myself included, have new scars. We all learnt several rules on this trip, don’t wake the beastie and don’t touch the hat.”

The look that appeared on Shanks’ face was one he had never seen before or not for a very long time, it was wondrous and staggering. He stared at Buggy like he had just given him the entire world. No, he looked like the first time Roger placed the straw hat on his head. 

“ Blue…” Shanks choked out, hand coming up but unsure if he was allowed to touch or not, if he wanted to grab his brother or his son. “I…”

“He won’t let go till he's awake and he's still recovering, brat is an overachiever like you, who unlocked his conqueror’s young.” Buggy supplied before flicking his eyes toward Rayleigh who had staggered forward a step. “He's like Captain, probably worse as the old hunter forced his instincts and observation out young too.” 

“I knew about the Conqueror’s…” Shanks said as he finally gave in and reached forward to gently brush some of Luffy’s unruly hair away from his face. “Saw that before we left Dawn. I suspected that he could hear the Voice too but wasn’t sure if it was that or just him being in tune to the world around him. His raising made him a bit more animal than human Makino said once.”

Buggy shot him a look. “That's because Garp beat the child and threw him into the monkey pits to train, left him to survive the wilds of his home before he could even talk properly.”

“… are we surprised, Blue, are we?” Shanks asked with a raised brow. “We’ve been around the man since we were kids and saw what he did to Dragon before he ran off with Coyote.”

Buggy took a step back, hand coming up to cover Luffy's head, a barrier of protection between his nephew and his brother. Did his brother know of the abuse this kid was getting and still left him there? “Did you know? Red, did you know the abuse this kid suffered under his own blood’s hands? No fucking wonder the kid thinks he’s unloveable.” 

Shanks reared back at that, eyes widening. “Of course I didn’t know!” 

“Makino had said Garp hadn’t been by since Anchor was five. ” Shanks continued. “And seeing as he was chasing us within a month of us leaving Dawn he stopped just long enough to see my hat on his head before he was chasing us down for “corrupting his grandson”. Had I thought he was a present threat Makino and Anchor would have been on my ship before we left.”

“Did you not wonder!?” Buggy snarled, body stiffening as he felt Luffy shift against his chest, stilling everyone else in the bar. “Now isn't the time to argue. If he wakes and hears it…” 

“Boys, I think it's time to head back to the ship.” Beckman stated as he turned his gaze to the crew before looking to Lucky who was the next in charge to carry out the order.

Buggy nodded. “My ship is next to yours, tell my First Mate ‘Purple is in discussion’ he'll know and there'll be no fighting. It'll be best if your doctor stays though.” 

Lucky nodded as he directed the rest of the boys out, telling his captain and first mate that he'll take care of everything so they can have a private talk about Anchor. The place cleared out fast, only leaving the seven of them.

“He hasn't recovered as fast as he should, his energy keeps sapping. Crocus, Kureha, my own doctor have looked and have given a variety of medicine but dipping in the sea with Red will be the only option.” Buggy said once everyone had finished clearing out. “Loath as I am to put a fruit user in the sea.”

“Has anything helped so far?” Hongo asked as he finally approached. 

“He’s been at his best when he was able to eat until he actually felt full combined with the medication we’ve been using to slake the worst of the hunger for the sake of our stores.” Buggy said, carefully rocking Luffy when he fussed a bit at the sudden absence of so many Voices. “He definitely isn’t healing as fast as Monkey D’s are known for. He was effectively comatose for a few weeks in the beginning fighting off a nasty fever and infection. It was nearly three weeks in my care before he started waking sporadically. But by Drum he could manage a few hours. He’s still on the wrong side of malnourished but it’s better than it was by a lot.”

“ What…” this time it was Beckman who spoke, face shattered. 

“Da?” Luffy murmured sleepily, hands stretching out to wrap around Beckman who immediately took him into his arms, bringing his cloak around to cover him from the chill of the bar. 

“Shh, Anchor, sleep. Da's got you.” He whispered softly, thumb brushing the scar under his eye gently. 

“ Missed you.” Luffy half slurred as he tucked his face into Beckman’s neck. “ Love you. ”

“We’ve missed you too, little prince,” Beckman murmured, pressing his lips to his son’s messy hair. “And we love you more than you’ll ever know.”

Chapter Text

Luffy fell back asleep immediately and Beckman noticed how light his son was compared to the last time he held him, how small he was. He hadn't grown at all in the year that they were gone and he should have. If he didn’t know better he’d think his kid had actually shrunk in more than just weight. 

He had silently hoped that Shanks’ brother was exaggerating, even if Shanks was very adamant that his brother would never do that, that he was the one you could always trust to never lie about something this serious. But still, Benn chose to believe what he wanted silently because Makino would never let Luffy starve. The woman was too fierce, a Monkey D in blood and honour even if she didn't carry the initial and would burn the world down for her son, their son. 

It also solidified that Makino was gone. The Makino they knew would never have handed Luffy over and left him alone unless she was already close to dying herself. She was the one to tell them how much their son hated being alone first. 

“Buggy…” Beckman started after a moment. “Makino is she..?”

“She didn't make it.” Buggry replied exhausted, eyes sad. “She was hurt very badly in the Buster Call, I'm pretty sure in the end it was sheer spite and her love for that kid that kept her going. She took down the marine ship that was hunting her to make sure we got away safe. A true Monkey D.” 

Hongo narrowed his eyes as he examined his nephew in Beckman's arms, noting the red across Luffy's skin where burns had obviously been, taking note of the odd keloids of scar tissue that shouldn't be there. His eyes widened slightly as he surged forward, practically ripping the child from Beckman's arms and ignoring the outcry. Apologies spilled from his lips as Luffy jolted awake in a panic. 

“I'm sorry, Sonnenschein,” Hongo soothed as he pulled back the wrap and the scarf that covered him, taking note of the wounds. “It is important okay, shhh, let Onkel Hongo look.” 

How did three doctors miss this!? Hongo raged mentally as he prodded the wounds with his fingers, feeling the jagged pieces under healed rubbery flesh. He could feel it… just barely at the edge of the worst part of the wound. It was buried deep enough that while it infuriated him to no end he could see how it would have been ignored and overlooked for the sake of treating the rest. 

“Ow!” Luffy yelped, jerking away with tears in his eyes. “ Onkel, that hurts! Tio! Tio it hurts! Make it stop! Onkel!”

“I know Sonnenschein, but this is important. I'm sorry Anchor.” He stated while prodding still and ignoring the dig of a dagger that pressed warningly in his side out of view. 

He turned his gaze towards his captain. “This cannot wait, the reason he can’t recover is because he still has sea stone embedded in his wounds.”

“I’ve felt one big chunk at the main wound and smaller bits scattered throughout.” Hongo continued as he kept carefully prodding. “ This is why he’s still fighting an infection. His body is trying to reject the foreign material but it’s too small to negate his fruit enough for it to push out like it normally would so it’s just been getting buried under continually forming scar tissue that’s pushing it deeper.”

“Do what you need to do.” Shanks said firmly, flicking his eyes toward his brother for a moment. “ Blue , quit threatening to gut my doctor and let him work.”

Buggy shot his brother a look but pulled back his hand. “I'd say sorry but I'm not. The last person who ripped that child from my arms was not long ago and it ended with Luffy hurt. So excuse me for being paranoid when I see a stranger yank him forcefully from his supposed Da's arms and make him flinch and cry for me .” 

“Hongo gets really focused. Anchor knows none of my crew would ever harm him intentionally.” Shanks said firmly. “He calls each of them Uncle in their native language. My crew is safe , Blue, we don’t hurt kids.”

“No, you just abandon them.” The sarcastic reply was out of Buggy’s mouth before he could even stop the words. Ah, fuck. 

“… it is only because you’re the sassiest bitch I’ve ever met and the fact that I know your filter is nonexistent when you’re stressed that is keeping me from kicking your ass.” Shanks said blandly though his eyes had turned hard and cold. “I left him on that island because of a promise we both made , Blue. But make no mistake he is my son, not yours.”

“Our son.” Beckman grunted from where he’d moved closer to Hongo once more. 

Buggy felt his ire rise at the mention of the promise. His blue eyes turned glacial as he glared at his brother. “Fuck that promise.” 

Shanks felt his eyes widen at the sheer venom in those words, watching warily as his brother stalked close, hand wrapping tight around Shanks shoulder and squeezing. “That kid is more important than that promise, Red. He deserves everything and I hate to say it, hate to rub it in. But he's seen and experienced the same shit we saw on the Oro and he never even left the island.”

“He is.” Shanks agreed. “He’s not going to be alone anymore, Blue.”

“He better not be, you flashy bastard.” Buggy snarked. 

“Captain, we need to get back to the ship, now.” Hongo stressed as he covered Luffy back up and dashed out the door, he wasn't as fast at shaving like Lucky or Shanks but he could move pretty damn quick if need be. 

Shanks didn’t question him following after with everyone else in the bar on his heels. By the time they reached the Red Force, Hongo had already vanished into his infirmary. Knowing from past experiences though, Shanks made sure to knock and wait for permission to enter before opening the door. 

“Alright, Anchor, I’m going to give you some medicine that will put you to sleep, okay?” Hongo said as he went through preparing the proper dose. “When you wake up you shouldn’t feel quite as sore.”

“I’m sick of sleepin’!” Luffy whined. “Feels like that’s all I do cause of stupid med-sins!”

“I know, kiddo, but once I finish you shouldn’t get as tired as easily anymore.” Hongo soothed mentally praying that the seastone poisoning wouldn’t be too drastic despite the prolonged exposure. “Could you take your clothes off for me, leave your underwear on. I definitely don’t need you streaking around the ship again . I just want to check the injuries you got on your legs too so I don’t miss anything.”

By the time Hongo had turned back around, Luffy had done as he asked and his eyes trailed over, sucking in a harsh breath as he saw the mottled bruises, healing wounds but the bullet bruise. Hongo had seen that shape many times on those lucky enough for something solid to stop it. How did their Anchor get it? What stopped it because… 

Shaking his head, he gave Luffy the medicine and waited for him to fall asleep before beginning to reopen the wounds, carefully picking the pieces of sea stone out of his nephew's skin. All on the crew know how strong their Anchor was, but there was no Devil Fruit user he knew of that could withstand and move about, be awake, with sea stone embedded in them. 

The knowledge that Luffy had not only been recovering, albeit slowly , but actually going hunting and causing a modicum of his usual brand of chaos had his head spinning. It was impressive and absolutely terrifying all at the same time. 

He could sense his captain waiting on the other side of the door, his knock familiar and waiting. Hongo knew that when he opened the door, the sight of Anchor unconscious and bloody was going to hurt but Hongo needed to get him in the ocean.

“Fuck…” Shanks choked out as Hongo opened the door. 

“Ocean now, panic attack later,” Hongo stated. “Beck, strip his shirt, you'll need to go in with him. He needs to hold Anchor but you'll have to keep him afloat.” 

Buggy stared hard at Rayleigh as Luffy was rushed past them and down to the edge of the water where they were docked. He would stand guard to make sure that no one saw, that no one interrupted. 

He was glad for the darkness that made it hard to see the end of the dock. He trusted his Red to no end but was also well aware that he would panic if he had to actually see his little nephew limp in the water. He was doing great not to panic standing next to the man who broke every promise he’d ever made and abandoned him and Red both. Buggy would absolutely be having a panic attack later but for now he’d put all the acting skills his Mama taught him to excellent use. 

Beck and Shanks dove into the water and Buggy watched as Hongo carefully placed Luffy in Shanks' arm. He flinched as Hongo quick as anything sliced along Shanks collarbone and down his now missing limb, Buggy knew it needed to be done, knew the Ocean needed the blood to help heal. Blood of thy blood that bound them together and all that bullshit.  Didn't mean that he had to like it, Buggy loathed seeing his brother hurt, bleeding or cry and he also really fucking hated when his nephew cried out as the ocean salt hits open wounds. 

“He'll be okay, Blue,” Rayleigh murmured softly, hand flinching back those glacial eyes narrowed in on him, the glare so much like Rouge’s. 

“You don’t get to call me that…” Buggy hissed softly, stepping further away. “Not anymore.”

“Blue, son, please…” Rayleigh started and Buggy felt his heart constrict in his chest. 

He’d longed for those words for so long that now the name he spent his childhood with felt like ash on his tongue unless it was from very specific people. Namely, Luffy and Shanks, even though the feeling still tried to creep when it was Shanks saying it. He shoved it down then though, because Shanks was his Red and he was Shanks’ Blue , always . That was one promise he was glad stayed intact despite their split in Loguetown. Rayleigh though, brought back every feeling he hated so much. 

Carefully, he kept his breathing steady. He refused to give Rayleigh the knowledge of just how much he still affected him. Just how much the name Blue sounding in his voice made Buggy want to find a corner and hide as he screamed and cried all that old grief into a pillow for the millionth time. He missed his family. Seas, he really fucking did. However, by Rayleigh’s own choice that family no longer included him despite the memories that clawed at Buggy’s soul. 

“Blue is dead , Rayleigh,” Buggy said his voice surprisingly steady for the turmoil trying to drag him under. “You made sure of that when you broke every single fucking promise you ever made to him. The only people I consider family that I have left are Red and that kid.” 

He didn't bother to look at Rayleigh to know his words cut like knives, that the devastation flashed across the old man's face. He couldn't care, not now, not when he could see Luffy thrash in Shanks’ hold, injuries still not healing. Shanks didn't let go though, neither did Beckman, both curling tight around their son as blood mingled around them… 

The Ocean remained dormant and Shanks bared his teeth and let his Haki free. Red and gold arcing out like crack shots, splitting the ocean and cracking the ground of Sabaody before he wrapped it around his little family. Beck grabbed the dagger he kept on him, desperation in his actions as he sliced his arm along the bite his son gave in a blink. The Ocean roared then, loud and strong like it did when she bound them and both Shanks and Beckman breathed out in relief as they watched the wounds begin to heal, giving their strength to their son. 

“Thank the seas,” Beckman murmured breathlessly as he tightened his grip on his two most precious treasures. 

“Better hope you didn’t go deep enough to need surgery again.” Shanks joked easily. “Hongo will have you tasting colours for a week.”

“Worth it, always,” Beck replied and blinked as he lifted his arm to see that it had healed, along with the one Hongo inflicted on Shanks. “Huh.”

“Figure it out later, we need to get out and let Hongo take a look at Anchor,” Shanks murmured as Beck began to drag them back towards the dock where Hongo and Blue waited. 

Hongo didn't waste a second before grabbing Luffy and rushing back to medical, his nephew being the more important and heavily injured out of the three plus he knew that if need be, there was another doctor who could stitch Beck and Shanks up.

Once again Luffy broke all the principles of physics and human biology. Hongo was still unsure how he had managed to keep his Devil Fruit with the sea stone deep in his skin, nor was he unable to understand how he did not suffer broken bones from the gunshot. Something Hongo knows his captain is going to be furious over, but for now, besides the malnourishment and the energy drain from his haki and illness, Anchor was as good as he could be. 

Once he had Anchor dry and wrapped up once more, Hongo carefully took him to the captain's cabin where he knew Shanks and the others would be, pausing slightly at the pirate before him. It was the one that brought Anchor back to them, the one Shanks referred to as Blue and brother. The very Pirate who held a dagger to his gut and defied the great Silvers Rayleigh. 

“He's going to be alright, the injuries have healed, the sea stone is gone but the bruise from the bullet he took will linger for another day, it's a mottled yellow now instead of black.” Hongo explained as he passed the kid over to Blue because he was sure that he wasn't going to be allowed further in the room. 

“I’m sorry a fucking bullet?! ” Shanks half shrieked. “ Blue, you let someone shoot my kid?”

“I didn’t let that flashy little terror do shit!” Buggy snapped back. “He was supposed to be in my cabin with Richie and snuck out just to jump in front of a bullet some no name fuck was trying to put in my back!” 

“ Language .” Rayleigh scolded instantly much to Buggy’s dismay. 

“First of all, fuck you, you’re the one that taught me how to cuss.” Buggy hissed. “Second, he grew up in a fucking bar and running around a slum just for funsies he can handle the word fuck.”

“You left him alone with a lion!?” Shanks asked hysterically and Buggy sighed, of course his brother knew about his crew and who Richie was. 

“It was an all hands situation. They attacked at night, my crew though trained well are not Paradise Level yet.” Buggy growled back.

“Sounds like you’ve been wasting the last ten years, Blue.” Rayleigh said dryly. 

Shanks felt his eyes widen, body moving on instinct as he grabbed his brother around his chest with armament, careful of Anchor still in Blue’s arm as his brother lunged, their Mama's dagger already in his hand. “Blue!” 

“ Let me kill him!” Buggy hissed eyes cold as he glared at the man that saved him once upon a time. “Not like he wouldn’t deserve it! Ace is coming up on twelve, yeah? You gonna abandon him too, Silvers ? His dad is already dead! Least he never had to see his head hit the ground! You’re great at leaving kids when they need you most to fend for themselves after all.”

“And you know it too or you wouldn’t keep trying to grovel.” Buggy sneered. “You stopped being my Pops when you left us alone with nothing but our father’s headless corpse! What lies did you tell Mama when she asked where her boys were, Pops ? Did you ever tell her you left the boys you three raised to rot or did she die in childbirth thinking you would let us know our baby brother?!”

“One, you're not killing anyone with my son in your arms.” Shanks butted in. 

“Hasn’t stopped me yet.” Buggy cut in. 

Shanks opened and closed his mouth at that. “Two, we are gonna talk about that but no, you can't kill Pops whether he deserves it or not. Three, Blue, you need to calm down, okay? Your face is red and I can feel your heart rabbiting through your back.”

“He has no right .” Buggy hissed. The anger was easier. It didn’t hurt as much as the grief. Didn’t threaten to drown him the same way. His Mama was angry a lot too and she made sure he could control it. 

“Tio?” Luffy murmured sleepily, fighting through the haze. “Wha’ wrong? You're sad ‘gain.

The change in Buggy was immediate, anger draining from him as he turned his back on Rayleigh, knowing perfectly well his brother would cover it while he hid the kid between them. The old man had no right to even lay eyes on Luffy. 

“I'm okay, Leãozinho, how're you feeling? Much better now I hope.” He asked.

Luffy nuzzled into Buggy more, still sleepy and foggy though there was a little furrow across his brow. “Better… Mãe helped… was waiting for Da and pai…” 

“That's good kid, just sleep now okay? Your flashy Pais and Tio have you.” Buggy soothed as he gently rocked the kid. Shanks’ hand was steady on him now, grounding him. He could still feel the anxiety bubbling under his skin, trying to squash it down so Luffy wouldn't feel it. “No, Leãozinho, don't fight the medicine.”

Dark eyes flashed briefly as a little sniffle was heard, stilling Shanks and Buggy. “Da, make mean-sad go ‘way.” 

“Get out.” It was Beckman's voice that startled Buggy next, his head snapping up as he tensed, ready to fight for his right to be here only to pause as he saw the glare directed over his shoulder to Rayleigh. “Your presence is upsetting Anchor, let alone the one person who has done all he can to get our kid here. Till they’ve calmed down, you need to leave. So, Get. Out.”  

Rayleigh looked like he wanted to fight it but after a moment he was gone and Buggy was looking down into the smirking face of his little nephew. Well he was before Luffy realized he was being watched and the smirk faded into a mask of sleepy innocence. Their brat was a manipulative little terror and Buggy would be damned if they didn’t all play right into his hand. Little shit. 

“Thanks, kid.” Buggy snorted. “You’re a manipulative little shit but thanks.”

When Buggy looked up his brother looked exasperated, like this wasn't the first time Luffy had done something like this. No, he looked exactly like someone who knew exactly what the kid was doing and still fell for it every time. 

“This isn't going to get you out of explaining how my son was shot, Blue .” Shanks said calmly before turning his gaze back down to his son. “You're in trouble too, Anchor. What did we tell you about following instructions? But first, you need to sleep, my little prince.”

“… I literally said exactly what happened.” Buggy snarked. “He snuck out and took a bullet for me. I sliced and diced then he got grounded by his own body for pushing it too much. He’s been on bed rest since that happened. He’s also been shot before one I know was from before he ate his fruit I saw the scar on his leg.”

Before Buggy could say anything else he paused for a moment thinking. He then quickly hit fuck it and dragged Shanks over to the bed. “We’ll deal with that later. I have handled so much fucking bullshit for the last few months and I am cashing in on a fucking decade of cuddles, Red. The husband can join if he wants. I don't care but I’m calling in the cuddle tax.”

Buggy immediately took the spot at the wall, shifting Luffy to his side as he pulled Shanks in and got him situated just how Buggy needed him to be and tucked himself into the crook of Red's neck and curled up, his brother's hand resting firmly on his back. He could feel Beckman slip in on the other side of Shanks but ignored that as his body and mind finally caught up to the safe feeling of being with his brother again and began to shut down.

Tears silently slipped past his lids as he buried his face into his brother's chest and nephew's hair.  He’d missed this, missed his brother, his twin, and more than anything regretted lashing out the way he did all those years ago. They were supposed to be Red and Blue always and he nearly ruined all of it. 

“I’m sorry, Red.” Buggy choked out. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“I know, Blue.” Shanks murmured as he carefully pressed his lips to his twin’s hair. “I know. Just rest for now okay? I’ve got you now. You’re safe so just rest.”

Buggy did as his brother told him, wrapping his arm tighter around the two treasures within reach. For the first time in years he felt whole, felt stable and no longer adrift. It was a deep sleep, one that was rudely interrupted by his brother and the husband. 

“Shanks… Why does your brother have no hands?” Beckman asked slowly, he could have sworn he had hands yesterday.

Shanks chuffed into Buggy's hair, still sleepy. “His ear is gone too.”

“... okay. Now, the better question, where is our son?” Beckman asked and Shanks jolted up in panic, eyes snapping down to see the spot his son was last night empty.

Buggy groaned and rolled over back into a comfortable position. “Brats on my ship, woke up not long ago. Waking too many times to that kid staring at me in the dark like I'm food is enough for one lifetime. So we made a deal, he taps me in a pattern if i'm asleep, takes my hands and I sneak an ear into his hat just in case.” 

“Both hands?” Shanks asked with raised brows because usually when it was him who left before Buggy woke it was the one his brother sent with him. 

“Red, your kid is a hurricane in a small rubber body while even sick. One hand isn't enough, one to catch him and one just in case someone tries something not like that matters as he's been strapped to my body at every island. But who knows with him.”

“Wait… what do you mean staring at you like you’re food?!” Shanks yelped. 

“Red… Red, I have watched that tiny terror rip out a bear’s heart and eat it raw .” Buggy said rolling just enough to give his brother a flat look. “He is going to do that to someone someday and I flashily refuse to be on the list of options. It's bad enough he already bit me for touching the hat without permission… and calling him a Monkey D. but I was going off of what Makino told me. That kid takes being a Benn D seriously. The fury he had at Garp’s second was… astounding.”

“You need to tell us everything, if Luffy is safe right now and as much as I desire to see him… I need to know before I say something stupid.” Shanks sighed as he scooted up enough to sit up, pulling his brother's head into his lap and running fingers through blue hair. 

Benn frowned. “I'm going to go find Luffy, I feel what I hear will anger me.”

“Oh it will. I was pissed at you two for a reason. Kid’s seen some shit.” Buggy huffed. 

Shanks stared at his husband, he could see the slight tremor in Beck's hands, the dark glint in those grey eyes. Out of the two of them, everyone always assumes that Beck was the most level and calm headed but he really wasn't. If what his brother says is true then the rage that Beckman would feel… well there was a reason that Jaya had to be rebuilt and why Teach avoided them like the plague now. His husband tore that town apart when Shanks got his scars in hunt of that bastard. Sabaody wouldn't survive the rage over the hurt their son had suffered, especially if Beck was already furious. Not even his Haki could subdue him, it rolled off of Beckman like oil and water. 

“Alright love, I'll tell you everything later, go get your Anchor Cuddles.” Shanks dismissed and watched Beck leave before turning his gaze towards Buggy who was staring at him with a confused furrow. “Beck could rival a Monkey D, or a D in general in strength. He devastated jaya when I was hurt, what do you think he'd do at everything our son went through?”

“Ah, Jaya.” Buggy nodded, he had read the reports on that, cause his brother was hurt, but no one said who destroyed the town.  

“Blue, please stop stalling. I need to know.” Shanks begged, no, Red begged.

But there was something Buggy needed to know first. “Why did you tell them about me? About Blue ? How did Makino know that I would help?” 

“You can hate me for the rest of your life.” Shanks said fondly. “But you will never not be my brother. You’re my Blue, remember? Always. ”

“Luffy had a bad nightmare, telling him stories of our adventures calmed him. I wanted him to know you, to know his uncle.” Shanks continued after a moment of silence. “I told Makino where to find you, just in case. I knew the moment you'd see my hat that you'd believe everything she said… I'm sorry, Blue, for dragging you into danger like always.”

“Red… seas, Red, I have to thank you for it this time.” Buggy replied desperately so his brother would believe him. “I missed you every day since that night, I thought I'd ruined everything and lost my brother… but you trust me to protect your treasure , your most important one… I tried so hard to keep him safe, protected and healthy, so hard and I failed so many times.” 

“He wasn’t going to get better with the seastone in him, Blue. Even if it does affect him less than a normal fruit user. Hongo found it because we know first hand how Luffy heals so him still being down wasn’t a fault of your own.” Shanks soothed. “Like you’ve said the kid has seen some shit but he is strong, Blue. You did what you said you’d never do and crossed the mountain to bring him to me. You have nothing to be sorry for. Thank you for bringing my son home, Blue.”

“Always Red, for you and that kid.” Buggy rasped and closed his eyes with a soft groan. “Your kid is trying to beg for more food in the form of your husband's breakfast, that husband of yours folded like wet paper.” 

Shanks chuckled but he watched as Buggy’s face crumpled slightly. “I was confused when this woman showed up on my island flaring haki, telling me the kid she had was your son. One because I was there for all your gay panic as kids and two she looked like she wasn’t even twenty yet. She told me everything and when I watched this woman face death in the face and the child in my arms how could I not help?” 

“I was adamant to stay detached, to keep a distance but fuck, Red, I stopped at Loguetown because we needed medication, some asshole wanted him and I got mad.” Buggy spat. “He died by my blade as Luffy slept strapped to my chest, that's where he stayed. I couldn't let him out of my sight, I swore on Calypso and all that remained to get him to you.” 

Shanks swallowed as he watched his brother's eyes become distant, words held behind clenched teeth and a bitten tongue. It had been a long time since he had seen his brother this soft and desperate, this honest with him and Shanks wasn’t going to ruin it by opening his mouth now. He desperately wanted to know all his brother and son had gone through to get here, every struggle and accomplishment. Maybe then it would help ease the guilt burning in his chest.  

“Crocus helped but Luffy fussed, he couldn't be out of my sight. He didn't like it, screamed in his sleep till he was with me again. I think it's because Green told him I was safe . There were minor setbacks and scuffles, all was fine and he was recovering then that fucking asshole attacked… I watched Luffy get shot, I watched his body tumble across my ship like a ragdoll and not get up…” Buggy sobbed. “Fuck Red, I thought he was dead and it would have been my fault because I lost my temper and my attention slipped. .” 

“The person?” Shanks rasped out, his haki simmering furiously under his skin.

“Dead, the kid killed him with conqueror’s.” Buggy let out a soft hysterical laugh. 

Good… Shanks thought. “The captain? The crew?” 

“I lost my temper, I love that kid, Red, so much and to see him unmoving… I split them all and let the ocean have them. She gave no mercy nor did I for I had none .” 

“ Good .” Shanks ground out before quickly wrestling his control back. 

“So you know he has depression.” Buggy said after he was sure his brother had calmed down enough. “Along with anger and abandonment issues. I only saw the anger when Garp’s second stumbled upon us and tried to kidnap him but he did tell me about his rages too. Most recent was when some crew on Dawn tortured him. Apparently he was just going to tough it out because ‘ it didn’t hurt as much as Gramps training’ but they threatened to hurt Makino and he snapped.”

“What!?” Shanks snarled as his Haki lashed out.

“He killed them, calm down. A bandit patched him up and sent him back to Green.” Buggy huffed. It had pissed him off too but there was no changing the past. “Kid has a body count. Not that I’m surprised considering who his biological parents are.”

“… you think you figured out who Luffy’s mother is?” Shanks questioned incredulously before wrinkling his nose a bit. “Who do you think fucked Dragon?”

Buggy stared at his brother in woe, how had Shanks never noticed? He was just as close to Coyote as Buggy was, before well everything. Luffy may look like a miniature version of Red now, but he still has Coyote’s glare and jaw, the same look in his eyes as when Coyote was furious . 

“You're an idiot.” Buggy sighed exasperated. “Coyote is Luffy's other parent, must have been just before they became Crocodile.” 

The expletives that left Shanks' mouth after that revelation had even Buggy reeling because there was a lot and in every language Shanks knew. But then came the deathly silence, the anger , because now Shanks is connecting the same dots Buggy had. Just how exactly did Luffy end up with Garp of all people, because both he and Red knew Coyote wanted kids but never thought it would happen as the body dysmorphia would be too much.  

“Red, that can be dealt with later.” Buggy interrupted when his brother got to the threats. “You need to be prepared. That kid of yours is worried that if he does one wrong thing he'll be sent away. He lived in the forest, Red, when Garp ‘trained him’ and I say that with all the sarcasm in the world because in reality it was abuse and torture.”

“He's gonna need help, Shanks. He remembers too much, that Dragon got him shot and blamed him for it as he abandoned him, he was tortured just after you left from pirates for hours and killed them when they went to go for Makino. He needs stability and patience, love like what Captain and Mama gave us.” Buggy continued on, needing to blurt it all out. “That kid took a bullet for me because he knew he was bullet proof and I’m so fucking glad it wasnt sea stone… But he took it for me because he'd rather die than lose someone he loves again.”

“We… we need to tell Coyote…" Shanks said after a moment. “Knowing the shit they wanted to pull regarding Ace and Mama before Garp was removed from the equation Coyote probably thinks his son is dead. Luffy is going to raise hell when he’s older and I’d hate for Coyote to fight him and do more damage than one should do to their family.”

“I’ll handle that on my way back East. It’d be best if you get Luffy back into the new world sooner rather than later.” Buggy sighed, he was going to miss that kid. “A member of the marines knows he lives and I don’t trust it not to slip at some point. He’s survived a buster call. He’s the new Nico Robin and he’s got a bloodline they definitely want gone.”

“I dare them to try.” Shanks snarled furiously, the ship rocking with the force of his haki as it rippled out. 

It had Buggy jolting up and out the door in a blink, because that was pure fury and Luffy knew they were talking. He felt the kid's voice vanish, his ear and hands flying back to him with a snap as a little ripple of haki pushed at him. 

“Fuck! LUFFY!” He yelled as he jumped from Red’s ship to his own in panic. 

Sabaody was not the place to pull a fucking vanishing act. Not with the overwhelming amount of slave traders running around. He hoped the kid was smart enough to stay on the ship and not go running off among the archipelago to hide. But he had a feeling that wouldn't be the case.

Chapter Text

Ace was a curious kid and as expected said curiosity often got him into a lot of trouble with his Pops. Of course he followed when everyone in the bar suddenly went to the docks! Something was happening and he wanted to know what! 

He didn’t expect the kid though and he definitely didn’t understand why he had to be dunked into the sea to get better. That just seemed stupid but what did he know about it? He wasn’t a doctor. He did want to know about the kid that had his Pops so interested though and he’d heard him call the blue haired pirate son before the man got snippy with him. He didn’t know he had brothers!

He only found out about Shanks when the man had shown up several days before, the arguments then too were loud and Kiki had to take him and Bo out while his Pops dealt with it. The haki that had spilled out after them had him and Sabo staggering and Kiki rushing them away. He’d been making himself scarce as best as he could but when this new man showed up too his curiosity won out. 

There was something about him that reminded him of Sabo though, just a glint in those eyes, smart. He had a devil fruit too, besides Shanks and his pops, Ace doesn’t think anyone else noticed when his hand detached and held a dagger up to gut the man who ripped the kid from Shanks. 

But out of everything, Ace found out why he didn’t know he had brothers, the fact that his Pops abandoned them. The man had torn down islands when Ace was hurt or taken, and destroyed the slaver house that one time someone got a hold of Sabo. So, why did it ache something fierce to know that he had abandoned the others, they weren’t blood related too… would he do the same to him and Sabo? Was the one called Blue correct? 

“Ace! There you are, I've been looking for you since I woke up, why didn’t you wake me?” Sabo called as he rounded the hollowed out tree trunk they used to hide a good chunk of their own stash. 

“I overheard some not great things and just needed to not be around Pops…” Ace said softly after a long stretch of silence. 

“Talk to me,” Sabo said as he dropped next to his claimed brother with a small huff. “Can’t help if you don’t let me in that head of yours.”

“You know that redhead that showed up a few days ago and the clown with blue hair from last night?” Ace asked hesitantly. 

“Yeah, the redhead is Akagami no Shanks, right?” Sabo said, tilting his head back and forth a bit as he thought. “I think I recognise the clown too, but I can’t place his name right this moment.” 

“They’re… they’re my older brothers…” Ace sniffled, scrubbing furiously at his face when tears suddenly sprang forth. “I didn't even know they existed but Mom and Dad raised them with Pops on Oro and Pops just abandoned them in Loguetown after Dad’s execution. Bo… Bo, they were only like twelve. ”

“They watched the marines murder Dad and Pops just left them there!” Ace gasped out, his body shaking. “How could he do such a thing? What if he does it to us!? Is he going to abandon us for the new kid? Start a new family with him like he did with me to Red hair and clown?” 

A sniffle stilled Ace’s rant, his and Sabo’s eyes snapping up to see a small kid in a straw hat hiding in one of the higher spots they carved out when they wanted to take a nap here because none of the adults could get that far up. Ace squinted and recognised the kid from last night, looking like he hadn’t been injured at all. 

“No… Tio brought me to Papai…” he sniffled. “Was being hunted cause of my dad…” 

Sabo jolted at the familiar language of his home, his eyes widening. “You’re from East Blue?” 

“That’s not important right now, what do ya mean you’re being hunted because of your dad?” Ace asked after slapping his twin. 

“Dad’s a rev- rev-o-loose-anary but I don’ think he likes me much.” Luffy said haltingly as he fumbled with the unfamiliar word. “Tio said his name is Dragon I think but he got rid of me when I got hurt. Said I was more trouble than I was worth so he gave me to Gramps but Gramps just likes to hit me and say it’ll make me stronger. He gave me to ‘Kino though so I didn’t have to see him much.”

“I really miss my ‘Kino.” Luffy sniffled. “But mama is gone. I- I can’t hear her anymore…” 

Ace glanced at his twin when he saw Sabo blanch, it wasn’t a reaction that his brother did much. He tapped his brother and shot him a look, telling him to inform him of the information that he himself didn’t know. 

“Dragon the Revolutionary is classed as the World's Worst Criminal and is hunted far more aggressively than Gol D. Roger ever was.” Sabo stated before turning his gaze back to the kid. “That means you’re Monkey D. Luffy, I managed to sneak some reports out when Ace and I raided the marine base close by.” 

“Benn D. Luffy.” The kid growled low and Ace shuddered at the familiar feel of Haki. “None of them wanted me. I am not a Monkey D. Jean tics or not!” 

“Genetics.” Sabo corrected out of habit. Sue him, Ace was shit with words and he had to correct him a lot so it was a well ingrained habit. “But we get it. You’re not a Monkey just like I’m not an Outlook.”

“Alright then, why are you here and not back with the others?” Ace asked somewhat impatiently, angry. A mask really because this kid was like him, this kid could understand his issues far better than anyone else including his twin. Both of them are being hunted for their blood, both lost their mothers because of it. 

The fierce look turned pathetic, tears forming in his eyes as he pulled the familiar straw hat over his face. “Tio was talking with papai and papai is angry… I did a bad thing and he's mad at me… I broke our promise.” 

“Papai?” Ace questioned. 

“It means Dad in Goan. Specifically Low End Goan. You’re from Dawn too, aren’t you, Luffy.” Sabo said gently as he held up his hands in hopes of coaxing the kid down from the high spot. His neck was starting to hurt from having to look up so far to see him. 

“Mm, Foosha…” Luffy mumbled as he tumbled into the blonde’s arms. “I’ll get out of your hideout… ‘m sorry for in ruding. I can find another place the trees just told me here was safe. ”

“The trees told you ?” Sabo asked curiously.

“Mhmm, I hear them. They said it was safe here, that it likes you, likes being useful.” Luffy stated. “I hear all the voices. Tio told me I have… um… voice of things? I dunno, I just hear everything but it’s not always words?”

“They told me to stay on this side though. I planned on that anyway. The people further away feel slimy and there’s a lot of sad-scared there too. I don’ like it.” Luffy said his hands shaking or rather his whole body vibrating from all the different voices overwhelming him. 

It made his head hurt… he missed his little cove… Mãe always sang to him there when everything got too loud. Everything was getting loud and Luffy fought to keep the whine trapped in his throat. The Voices always got louder when he made himself disappear… But, he’d bothered the older boys enough. They didn’t even seem mad that he’d been in their hideout and Luffy wanted to make himself scarce before that happened. He hated being lonely but maybe if he stayed away they wouldn’t throw him away as quickly…

“It’s quieter by the ships and the bar that the mean-sad man is hiding in but I’m scared… I’m scared if I go back Da and Pai will send me away too because I’m more trouble than I’m worth… just like Dragon said…”

Ace and Sabo felt a pang at that. Ace especially considering everyone that had been hurt just for his existence. The older brothers he hadn’t even known existed but knew about him. The very men that had been abandoned by the man that had lovingly albeit semi-drunkenly raised him his whole life thus far. 

He wondered what they would be like had Pops not left them alone. Would Shanks still have scars over his eye? Would Clown still pull daggers at a moment's notice? Would Luffy even be here at all had Rayleigh not left clown and Shanks in Loguetown all those years ago?

“Luffy! Kid, where are you?” A voice called in the distance raspy like he’d been yelling for ages now. “Leãozinho, please come out! Your Da and Pai are worried sick!”

“Can he not use haki?” Sabo whispered when the voice grew louder. 

“Tio Blue is best at looking… but I can quiet my Voice.” Luffy whispered back as he huddled further into the blondes arms. “Mãe and Wind taught me and Mama Luna helped too when Gramps kept throwing me into her den.”

His Tio sounded panic-scared much like he did when the bad-slimey-want pirates attacked. It made him want to run out to check on him but it was better this way. They wouldn’t get hurt if he just disappeared. He wouldn’t have to lose them all like he lost his ‘Kino. Dragon was right and they’d all be happier without a problem like him around. He was sure of it. 

“Leãozinho, please!” Buggy cried desperately again, shuddering as the cold of the sudden rainstorm hit him. 

Ocean Blessing healing or not, his nephew was still recovering, still oh so fragile. He was far from a hundred percent when even with their best efforts Buggy and the rest of his crew could just barely keep him on the right side of starving with the help of the medication to somewhat tame a D appetite. Luffy had run off before his morning dose and as a child it took triple what he could remember his Captain being given. 

Using his haki to hide from them now would have burned through whatever calories he consumed for his pre dawn snack. Buggy had to add on guesses as to what physical activities his nephew had gotten up to running from them and none of them meant good things. Doubly so now that the missed seastone fragments had been extracted and the sea herself had healed him. His fruit was fully back in play leaving with with a tiny bounce that burned even more. 

All that to say the longer Luffy kept hiding the longer his body consumed itself as he starved faster than anything Buggy had ever seen. Even with the pills, missing one meal was dangerous for Luffy’s current state and the last thing he wanted was for Luffy’s health to decline drastically all over again. 

“I think you should go to him, Luffy.” Ace huffed, gently bumping his shoulder into the smaller boy’s. “If you’re still scared I’ll go with you, alright?”

Dark eyes peered back at him from below the old straw. “Promise?” 

“We promise, you’re family now.” Sabo stated firmly. “I’m Sabo and this is Ace.” 

“M’ Luffy.” Luffy replied and flinched a little as he felt his Tio's Voice become terrified. 

With a wince he let his Voice come back knowing his uncle would sense it and bee line straight to him. It was only a fraction later that Buggy was peering into the hollowed out tree, face pale but relieved though his eyes narrowed in on the two brats that held his nephew. 

“There you are Leãozinho, I've been worried sick! Your flashy papai is frantic and that Da of yours is about to go tear grove one down in search of you.” Buggy scolded as his hands and arms slipped off to go and pry the kid from the others. He had a feeling who the dark haired one was, his haki signature familiar but it was the eyes, the glare and freckles of his mama that gave it away. 

Still, he didn't know the would be could be but never will be brother and the blonde brat next to him. Did Rayleigh take in another street kid? Did he truly replace him and Red so fucking easily? 

“Who the fuck are you?” The dark haired one snapped as he stepped in front of Luffy, protectiveness in his angry scowl. 

“Any other time it would approve of this but you need to give me my nephew right now, he's hours past his time for medication and food.” Buggy stated firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Ocean Blessing healing or not he needs rest, food and medication.”

“Can… can Ace and Sabo come too, Tio?” Luffy asked after a moment with wide pleading eyes. “Ace is mad at mean-sad man too.”

“Don’t you use those against me brat, I know better. If they want to come then they can, it’s not my choice.” Buggy said firmly with a raised brow. “You owe your flashy pai and Da cuddles, me too but I can get them now.” 

Luffy snickered, allowing Buggy to scoop him up. The older man squeezed too tight but Luffy was rubber he didn’t mind and in fact preferred it. He didn’t think any of the adults picked up on how much being rubber dulled his sense of touch. Luffy wanted to keep it that way too since they kept acting so weird any time he said something that was normal for him. He didn’t pretend to understand the why of it but that was okay! His Tio just wanted to squeeze him a little too tight. 

“He’s not going to be able to breathe if you squeeze him much tighter.” Ace deadpanned from where he and Sabo trailed just behind the pair. “Ain’t he supposed to be sick or some shit, Clown?”

“Shishishi, I don’t mind!” Luffy chirped. “Tio feels better when he squeezes me tight and I’m rubber so it don’t hurt!”

“You have a devil fruit too!?” Ace asked with wide eyes. “Me too!”

“Shishishi, cool! What’re you?” Luffy exclaimed excitedly, stretching his head around Buggy to actually be able to see the older boy. 

Buggy had a looming sense of dread , his head turning to get a look at the kid’s abilities for himself. He never actually asked Luffy how he acquired his fruit and now this brat also had one… and Shanks was within vicinity of both… Yeah, he definitely had a bad feeling about this. 

“I’m fire. ” Ace said emphatically even going as far as to let a small flame spring to life in his palm to show off. 

There were sparkles in Luffy's eyes at that. “Wow! That's so cool! I’m made of rubber!”

A flicker of Red's desperation had Buggy jolting, this was something he could ask about later. Without a thought he lightly reached his haki out to brush soothingly along his brothers and quickened his pace even further to reach the ships. Now that they’d been warned hopefully Sorena and his brother’s doctor would be ready with Luffy’s medication and the cooks would have a feast spread out. 

He could hear the boys following behind him, doing the best they could to keep up but Luffy was no longer hiding from him and the exhaustion was rapidly settling in. He still needed to regulate, his body needing to adjust slowly to his metabolism once more and the lack of sea stone. It also meant he was getting a bit sulky knowing that after a meal he’d be dragged back to bed. Buggy couldn’t even blame him for it. 

Red described a kid with endless amounts of energy that was always moving around. The kid even flopped about in his sleep! Buggy knew being effectively bed bound was not doing great things for the kid’s mental health. 

“Anchor!” Shanks yelped as he saw Buggy with Luffy in his arms, dashing towards his son and brother within a blink. “Seas Anchor, you worried me! Where were you? Why did you run?” 

“… Pai felt mad like Dad did when he gave me to Gramps…” Luffy murmured after a moment. His Pai and Tio didn’t like liars and Luffy didn’t like them all that much either… “I… I thought it wouldn’t hurt as much if I disappeared before you could ask me to…”

“‘m sorry I’m so much trouble…” Luffy said in the loud silence that followed. 

“You’re not trouble.” Ace snarled protectively, stepping up to hold Luffy’s hand as he glared at the adults daring them to contradict him. “You’re a scared kid who’s seen too much shit and if they don’t want you then you’ll be ours .”

Both Shanks and Buggy flinched slightly at the image of the angry kid before them, seeing both their mama and their captain in the kid. Buggy felt Luffy be taken from his arms and had to blink at the blonde in surprise as he scurried Luffy to hide behind the miniature version of their parents. 

“You are very much like mama…” Shanks uttered quietly before lowering himself enough to look at the kids, his eyes focusing on his son. He could feel Buggy’s fury radiating off him like a glacier, his brother's rage more icy than anything and he could also feel his husband’s barely restrained fury and knew that he was going to get a lecture later.

 “Anchor, you’re mine, my son.” The haki rippled out of him and over all three of the kids, honest and possessive. “I will never ever give you up. Fuck Dragon, he’s a spineless coward who doesn’t know what treasure he gave up. Lucky I am a pirate, and I am greedy.” 

Luffy’s lip wobbled but the way he didn’t make a sound made Shanks' heart ache as Luffy tipped forward into his chest. His son was always so loud with his emotions before where only anger that eked into rage territory made him go silent. Seeing him keep so quite hurt. It was three weeks from the buster call before Makino had managed to reach Blue… how many times had she had to ask him to stay silent for him to be so seemingly afraid of crying aloud even now. 

“Oh my little prince, I swear to Calypso, Davy Jones and all those that remain, on the graves of my mama and Captain that I’ll never leave you like that or the Sea herself may have me.” The oath in his conquerors wrapped around them both, stealing the breath from everyone present who heard them. An oath like that wasn’t one to take lightly. “Now let's get you fed Anchor, we managed to get you a sea king once your Tio Blue’s doctor told us how much you needed to eat to feel better. It’s all yours I promise.” 

Buggy narrowed his eyes at Rayleigh who was looking suspiciously damp still, his eyes averted from them but mainly focused on Ace who was doing all he could to avoid Rayleigh. Interesting. With a shake of his head he stood back, he got in the way of Luffy eating once and that was one time too many. The kid bites hard and with armament that Buggy fully believes the kid doesn’t realise he does. 

A few of his crew were looking green around the gills by the time Luffy finished devouring the sea king. The look only spread further when Luffy’s bloated body stretched and moved before he shrank back down like he hadn’t just eaten the entirety of a not at all small sea king and plopped on the deck with a sleepy yawn that was downright criminal for how adorable it was. 

Buggy moved out of weeks worth of habit and moved towards the now snoring kid and lifted him gently in his arms, brushing back the red strands and tucking his head under his chin as he cuddled him close, bringing the familiar straw hat to hook at his hip where it would be safe… only to stiffen as he realised that he had cut off his brother from picking up his own son. 

“… um habit?” Buggy said at the mixed look his brother was giving him. 

Buggy expected jealousy, he expected the fury of his brother over something like this. He had practically broken a cardinal rule, Luffy being far more important than their Captain’s hat and especially after what had just happened… but he was not expecting the soft smile that pulled at Shanks lips as he let Buggy shift Luffy into his arm gently. 

“He has you wrapped around his little fingers doesn’t he?” He asked low, bending down to nuzzle in the salt scented hair. 

“You have no room to talk.” Buggy grumbled albeit good naturedly because well his brother wasn’t wrong. 

“Anchor just has that effect on people.” Beckman hummed as he came to stand next to Shanks. “Though on a serious note he is smaller than he was before and I don’t mean his weight. Not by too much but it’s definitely there.”

Shanks frowned as he paid more attention to the precious treasure in his arm and found that his husband was indeed correct. His little prince felt far too small, he still fit into the crook of Shanks arm and that shouldn’t be. His son should be bigger, not much, but he was already getting to the point he had to sit more on Shanks’ hip than being carried. 

“Sorena spoke with your doctor, they think it’s his fruit. He’s not eating enough by Monkey D standards let alone one with a devil fruit. You just saw what he could do, how he can break down the nutrients to energy. He’s going to need to eat a lot and I frankly don’t feel comfortable keeping him on the medication to curb his hunger, it’ll damage him more in the long run.” Buggy stated softly, just loud enough for his brother and Beckman to hear, though it wouldn’t surprise him at all if Rayleigh’s two replacement brats heard him, not at all. 

“Then we'll get Rayleigh to get him a sea king for every meal if we have to. If I have to go myself to get one then I will.” Shanks uttered. “Lucky will have no issue cooking it for him, he learnt from Makino how to cook for Luffy back on Dawn.” 

Beck stepped a little closer, pulling Blue in with him. “We can't stay here much longer, when the boys went to Grove One before to look for Anchor they overheard Marine chatter. Seems they still know he's alive.” 

The look that morphed onto Buggy’s face was frightening, his lips pulled back into a furious quiet snarl as his eyes flashed like lightning over a violent storm. “I knew I should have killed that bastard, consequence be damned. The thrice cursed fuck only breathes still because he's Green’s brother and Luffy said no.” 

“The marine that tried to take him was Green’s brother?” Shanks questioned as he protectively held Luffy closer. 

“Green felt more like a D than he did so I’m not sure of how they’re related but yeah he’s the one that tried to kidnap Luffy when we stopped to let him hunt.” Buggy ground out. “Kid asked me not to kill him but I did maim him since Luffy said that the man wasn’t his. But I should have.”

“Blue, you did the right thing.” Shanks stated firmly, eyes snapping to his brother. “Anchor trusted you, you showed him you keep your word. He knows in time that you or someone else will kill that bastard but right then…” 

A small voice piped up then. “Someone here is trying to take him?” 

“He’s being hunted both for his father and the fact he survived a buster call.” Buggy said bluntly. He was shit with kids and he certainly wasn’t about to sugar coat anything for his replacements. 

“ Blue…” Rayleigh started displeased at how frank his son was being, a warning in his tone. He tried to keep the boys away from the worst of Sabaody, his youngest knew that he was being searched for but Rayleigh tried to keep the sheer violence of it all away from them. 

He wasn’t stupid, he knew that he couldn’t hide all of it but he didn’t want them to see the horrors and know exactly what the Marines were willing to do to rid the world of a bloodline they didn’t want surviving. He made that mistake once with his eldests and didn’t want to make that again.

“Did anybody pull your chain?” Buggy said with a glare. “No? Then shut the fuck up. You’ve got a new Red and Blue now. Why are you still here, Silvers?”

“What’s… what’s a buster call?” Ace questioned after a moment ignoring the protesting sound that came from his Pops. 

He pushed aside the way Blue hissed that he and Sabo were replacements to him and Shanks hurt. He and Luffy were the same but he’d encountered marines many times and none of them ever tried to harm him, never tried to steal him away from his Pops. So why were they trying that with Luffy?!

“The marines show up and bomb your island into dust.” Buggy said bluntly. “Men, women, children, civilians and criminals alike all die when the Marines and Elders think they’re stepping too far out of line. If you survive then nowhere is safe because your face is getting plastered onto a wanted poster and the hunt is on. Luffy is the new Nico Robin and they’ll probably chase him twice as hard. Everyone that knew Mama was pregnant assumed you died with her so no one military wise even knows you exist.”

He let them sit with that for now.

Chapter Text

Shanks didn’t say a word, letting his brother express himself because Shanks was still undecided where he fell on the feeling scale of what Rayleigh had done. He was so fucking glad that Ace lived, that his mama and Dad’s kid survived because he was always excited to have a little sibling but he couldn’t feel that now, not after watching his Captain’s head roll and Rayleigh fucking off into the depths of a bottle. 

Not with everything he had gone through before finding Beck and the horrors of his true family before he escaped. Not when he saw the scars on Blue, familiar and angry, newer than the ones he had when Rayleigh took him off the streets and brought him to the Oro. He knew it hurt his Blue more than it had him. Blue had hated his life on the streets and had nightmares for over a year when he was first brought to the ship. Shanks was mad at his own abandonment but it was the promises made to his brother that had finally calmed him just for them to be broken that infuriated him. 

Seas, Shanks was so glad that he broke his promise to Blue about leaving him be. That he told his son and Makino about his brother, he could have lost Anchor, he and Benn could have lost their little prince and he knew that something in them would break if that happened. Between Beck's strength and his haki, they would be unstoppable and the world would pay the price for it. 

“Blue!” Rayleigh snarled his anger palpable in the wave of conqueror’s to the point that Luffy shot awake and bolted out of Shanks’ arm to land in front of Buggy with a feral snarl of his own filling the air. 

“He is mine!” Luffy snarled inhumanly sharp teeth gnashing in Rayleigh’s direction as his own untamed and uncontrolled haki roiled forth to collide with Rayleigh’s. It was a display neither man had witnessed since some of the knock down drag out arguments they’d seen their three parental figures have in their younger years. “You don’t get to hurt him again! Not him, not Pai. They are mine not yours! ”

Buggy lurched at the haki that wrapped around him like a protective coat. Fear surging with his brothers but for different reasons. Shanks needed to stop his son before that Monkey D rage struck but Buggy had seen what using conquerors did to Luffy. 

“He is my son!” Rayleigh snapped back and Buggy didn’t know whether to be impressed at Rayleigh treating Luffy like an adult due to the display of power or pissed beyond all belief about. 

“He is your nothing,” Luffy hissed, shocking Buggy when he reeled his own haki back in. “You lost that right when you threw them away. I know exactly who you are. The sea has been telling me not to trust you since I could talk because of what you did to Jiji Roger’s treasures. I hope you found what you wanted in the bottles because Ace wasn’t the only legacy Jiji Roger and Mémé Rouge left behind Pai and Tio were theirs too.”

Luffy panted harshly, teeth bared at Rayleigh who was staring at the kid wide eyed, heart hammering and breaking in his chest. This child, his grandson … He had never seen someone stare at him with such hatred, such disappointment, not Shiki, not the Marines, hell not even Rocks when he was still alive. His eyes flickered up to his eldest son, reality slamming into him as he saw Blue staring at this kid with a slack jaw and surprised eyes, Red the same but with a mix of pride. 

“Leãozinho…” Buggy choked out. 

“Mine,” Luffy said firmly as he turned to wind rubber limbs around Buggy’s legs. His next words were barely a whisper but Shanks and Buggy heard them all the same. “I won’t throw you away… I know how much it hurts. You’re mine until my heart stops and even then.”

“Come on my little protective beastie you, it's time for bed. We can all snuggle together, your flashy papais bed is big enough for all of yours.” Buggy whispered as he hoisted up Luffy and placed him in Beckman's arms. The man chomping at the bit to get his cuddle time with his son. 

They're going to need to speak about their plans tomorrow, it's not safe for the kid here and neither of the three men were stupid enough to believe that Shanks Yonko status would hold them off.

It was going to break Buggy’s heart to leave this brat, but he needed to go back to East Blue, needed to gather the rest of his crew and treasure so he could make a base in Paradise. He had to stop by Coyote in Alabasta to let him know what's going on. 

“You too, Brats,” Buggy stated over his shoulder to the replacements. They were Luffy’s now, he could tell and he was loath to deny his nephew comfort and family. 

Both boys looked shocked but each took Luffy’s hands when they stretched around Beck’s large form for them. Buggy had to fight down a snort at the sight as the three boys trailed obediently behind Beckman to the Captain’s quarters. Luffy slipped out of Beck’s arms and stumbled, ignoring the many hands that went to steady him before pushing Blue against the wall, Beck in the middle and then Shanks at the edge before shoving Sabo and Ace between each adult and flopping over them all.

The kid was dead to the world and snoring before anyone could even think to protest the position. 

“It’s a Beck Sandwich.” Shanks snickered softly in spite of the bop to the head it earned him from his husband and the dismembered hand of his brother. 

“How the hell do they fall asleep so fast?” Beck asked bewildered as he held his head up to see the snoring boys on either side of him still latched onto his son like a teddy bear. 

“Fairly sure that Anchor’s haki wiped them out.” Shanks hummed softly. “He aimed it well compared to that last time but exposure to one as strong as his saps strength if you don’t know how to counteract it.”

Buggy popped his head up, using Beck as a pillow next to Luffy to stare at his brother. “That was after me helping him; that was him holding back.”

“We’ve witnessed him knock out a town because someone slapped Makino’s ass.” Shanks deadpanned. “We know that was him holding back. His natural strength without training can make me start to sway.”

Before Buggy could respond, Shanks tugged the collar of his shirt away to show off a puckered scar that was new enough it had yet to lose all of its redness. “You’ve seen him mad, Blue. We have seen him rage .”

Beck brought his arm up, letting Buggy see the severe scar down the length of his forearm before brushing his hand through his son's hair softly. “He bit through the bones in my arm when I tried to get him to let Shanks’ throat go, he severed the tendons in my arm, and Hongo struggled to fix it. We actually had to stop to see Kureha for additional surgery so I could keep full mobility. When it's cold, my arm shakes now. This… these are what caused us to…”

Beck couldn't finish the sentence, throat closing as he covered his son's entire back with the span of his hand. Their injuries and the subsequent infections had crippled them, between that and Shanks practically exhausting himself tearing Shiki's hold in the New World to bits had basically swept their time away.

They had only just begun to recover when the news of the Buster Call on Dawn had reached them. Beckman tore an entire island apart with his bare hands and Shanks had shut down in his grief, haki sputtering as he struggled to gain control. 

No amount of inquiries or even Shanks begging his uncle for information could tell them if their son lived or even tell them who found out and sold out their son. Shanks could barely get out of bed in those days, barely ate or slept, had his lone hand pressed against his chest desperately trying to feel the echo of their son's heart under his own. But it was hard to feel such wonders when your own heart was actively breaking. 

They had argued for days about calling Buggy to go check. Days of bitter words and sleepless nights where Beck spent an embarrassingly large amount of time drunk, it was only when they got Buggy’s message that it changed. 

“I need to head back to the East, I need to gather the rest of my crew. I'll be making my base in Paradise, I swore to keep the kid safe and the brat's lodged firmly in my heart now.” Buggy hummed as he lay back down, he really was going to miss the kid. “Have you decided where you're going to take him?” 

Shanks hummed. “Elbaf. It's big enough to hide him, the giants will help as well and… and Uncle is there. Gaban when he finds out what has happened will make sure nothing reaches Luffy.” 

“We may have to speak with Rayleigh about these two.” Benn stated gesturing to Ace and Sabo. “The Marines will come, they're at risk now.”

“I doubt the old man is going to let us waltz off with his replacement family,” Buggy said bitterly. “Especially not to the New World where they’d be safest since the marines have no hold after the first handful of islands despite their best efforts. The blonde is a runaway Goa Noble by his speech patterns too.”

Shanks stared hard at the roof of his cabin for a moment. “Let me deal with the old man, there’s a few things I’ve yet to say to him but can now, especially now that I know my son is safe. You’ll have to talk with Anchor though, he won't take it well that you’re leaving…” 

“...” The silence was loud as Buggy shot his brother a bland look. “You’re an ass. He’s gonna try to convince me to go with you. And it might fucking work!”

“Your son is a manipulative little shit, you know that right? That sunshine persona is a filthy lie. Woe be those who have to face him when he's grown and decides he's to be king.” Buggy groaned. 

“He already decided that.” Shanks snickered. “I gave him the hat for a reason after all. Maybe if we start praying for his crew now, it’ll actually do some good.”

Buggy scowled at that but knew the red head was far from wrong so instead he flipped him the bird and settled down for his own nap. Sabaody wasn’t kind to those with sensitive observation haki and he’d spent hours following the whispers of Luffy’s voice that he could sense. His head hurt and a nap sounded great. At least he felt a bit better when he woke a few hours later to a loud growl from Luffy’s stomach and a poke to his cheek. 

Sheer habit had an ear and both hands popping off and sticking to his nephew without a second thought. Luffy’s stomach was more reliable than a clock so knowing his late breakfast happened at his usual “snack” time it meant this growl was for lunch. He’d wake up the rest of the pile for their own meals while Luffy went to terrorize Roux. 

“Do not leave the ship unless me or your Pai are with you.” Buggy yawned as he heard small feet hit the floor. 

“Shishishi, okay, Tio.” Luffy laughed as he ran out the door, leaving Buggy to curl around the kid that was still snoring and into the furnace that was Beckman. His brother was a lucky bastard. 

Still with it being actually time for the midday meal Buggy gave his body as good a stretch as he could and began poking the others awake. Except for Shanks he sent a detached foot to kick him in the ass just because he could. So while the other three occupants woke with some grumbling and slow stretches Shanks let out a girlish yelp and rolled over so quickly that he tumbled right to the floor with a painful sounding thud. 

Shanks glared over the top of the bed at his brother, the kids snickering at him. “Why'd you kick me?” 

“Be glad I didn't do the head thing.” Buggy drawled back as he popped to pieces to get out of bed faster without crawling over Beckman. 

The shudder that ran down Shanks entire frame had Beck snapping his mouth shut, if it made Shanks have that reaction, he a thousand percent didn't want to know. 

“I severely hate when you do that to me, though the scream Gaban did that one time was beautiful. Kinda want to help Luffy convince you just so you can terrorize Uncle Gab again.” Shanks chuckled ,remembering the yelp and the thud as he flung himself off his hammock and into JB who screeched and slammed him into the floor while dragging Momora and Gallant along for the ride. 

“I am not going to the New World, Shanks,” Buggy said with a small glare. “It’s not a good place for me and it’s going to take years getting my crew of East Blue natives to the point that deep Paradise poses no issues let alone New World. I’m already going to have months of work shifting my network around. I’ve been doing the slow and steady with that so that the big names didn’t know they’d been ousted until it was too late to change.”

Shanks chuckled to himself as he got ready, watching the boys who were flicking their gaze between him and Blue confused. “My brother and I were raised in the New World, he's not one for chaos like I.” 

“Chaos, he says, like he's the one who doesn't cause most of it. I'm surprised Beckman is sane still.” Buggy muttered as he called back a hand and began to help his brother tie up his hair in his usual way. Time for Blue to be Buggy again. 

The huff of laughter was nearly drowned out by Shanks’ boisterous laugh that had Buggy’s heart clenching because it sounded so much like their Captain’s. “Blue, if you think that Beck is the calm one between me and him you need to think again. He grew up in the North Blue on one of the industrial islands that served as a North Blue version of Jaya.” 

Buggy straightened and turned slowly to stare at Beckman who merely smirked and lit a smoke as he held the door open. “We better hurry kids before Anchor eats all the food, you saw him eat that sea king by himself.”

“… why do you always crush on the crazy ones?!” Buggy said once the three were out of the room. “Don’t think I forgot about the crush you had on Mama’s bounty hunting apprentice! Now you married someone from an island that can compare to Jaya?!” 

“I know you know Mihawk’s name.” Shanks drawled with a grin. “I also know I wasn’t the only one who thought he was good-looking. Nor was I the one having a full bi panic over Coyote.”

“Coyote was better looking and I stand by it.” Buggy said with a roll of his eyes. “The only other feminine person that caught my attention since then was Green.”

“Excuse me?” Shanks asked deadly, eyes snapping up to his brother, hand spasming in the blue hair. It didn’t matter if Makino was… gone… That woman was family and though Shanks knew above all his brother would have treated Makino like an absolute queen, he couldn’t stop the protective flare that rose for the younger woman. 

“Nothing!” Buggy yelped instantly trying to remove Shanks’ hand from his ponytail. “I absolutely didn’t catch a crush because she scared me shitless, not at all.”

Beckman rolled his eyes exasperated and held up his arms and stopped both of the idiots' arguments. “You both are exactly the same, though Shanks, you and I are going to have a chat about that old crush on Mihawk and the fact I did not know about it and Buggy… If Anchor hears that you better pray to Calypso. That being said, again because it bears repeating you’re both idiots who are exactly the same and like people who can put you in your place.” 

“… it’s hot.” The pair of brothers said simultaneously with a shrug before glancing at one another in horrified silence and shuddering. 

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Buggy said with a sigh. “I liked her because she reminded me of Mama and just like Mama she’s gone. There’s no sense in getting all snippy over something that can’t even happen or about me admitting she was a beautiful woman.”

Before any one could say something Yasopp stepped below deck with a pale face and in a hurry towards them. The panic their Sniper was in had Beck and Shanks straightening while Buggy sighed, it seemed Luffy didn't stay on the ship, he's going to have a stern… A furrow pulled at his brows as he could hear Anchor chattering a mile a minute in Goan. 

“You need to come see this… you're… I don't even know… sea king… friends… he bit Silvers Rayleigh…” Yasopp whimpered out. 

Immediately the three men rushed onto the deck to see a bloody Rayleigh clutching his sword arm while Hongo, Ace, and Sabo fretted nearby and Luffy laid over top the nose of a fucking sea king just chattering away. The blood around his mouth didn’t escape any of their notice either. 

“What the fuck?” Shanks spluttered, heart lurching seeing his son on the snout of a sea king, his arm throbbed at the reminder the last time he saw this. “A-Anchor, get down from there.” 

“Mmm, no.” Luffy said bluntly before shifting to sit cross-legged on the sea king’s snout. “If I move you are all gonna be mean to King and he’s tired! It’s a long swim from East Blue. Oh… and King said he’s sorry for the arm, Pai.”

“Kid, if you had a pet sea king why didn’t you sic him on the ones that attacked us?” Buggy asked with a groan. “Ya know instead of getting fucking shot.”

“I didn’t know King followed us until today!” Luffy chirped. “He helped Kino with those marines and it took him a while to catch back up since we bounced around.”

“Great, that’s fine.” Buggy said calmly as he gently ushered Shanks and Benn to the table and chairs on deck before they collapsed. “Now, why is Rayleigh bleeding? Also have you eaten yet?”

“He tried to cut King even after I told him King is mine, so I bit him for being a meanie.” Luffy shrugged before wrinkling his nose.

“You broke my fucking arm!” Rayleigh snapped, interrupting Luffy before he could continue. “With your teeth!”

“He tastes extra salty. I don't like it. King brought me some Sea Cow as a snack though!” Luffy continued, completely ignoring Rayleigh. “That tasted much better but I am still hungry.”

“Lucky should be done cooking soon.” Buggy said also ignoring the legend that raised him. “King can stay so long as he doesn’t damage the ships or threaten anyone… yes, Luffy, that also includes Rayleigh… but he’ll have to go under when we go eat understood?”

With Luffy’s agreement, Buggy walked over to where Hongo was stitching everything up on Rayleigh’s arm. Luckily enough, he didn’t need surgery like Beckman had and the break was just a minor fracture that would be fine in a couple weeks time. Brat had actually held back to not tear everything up like he’d done for Benn’s bite and instead let his bite force do all the work. Huh, Buggy was proud of this.

“Blue… Blue… how can you be so calm!?” Shanks choked out, eyes never leaving his kid, hand twitching towards Gryphon but he stilled the urge. If he stayed frozen then his son wouldn’t attack nor would he crumble because what the fuck? 

“Have you met your son?” Buggy said blandly. “Since he’s been able to move around I haven’t even had time to put on my makeup once. He gets into more trouble than you and Mama did with all of your pranks on the Oro.”

“This is nothing like Mama and I!” Shanks whimpered. “Beck do something, he's your son!”

“Nope,” Beckman said bluntly. “Crazy shit means he’s your son when he’s violent and trying to rip towns apart barehanded then he’s mine and I pity whoever he marries one day.”

Shanks turned his gaze onto Blue in desperation. Buggy sighed and yanked up his nephew. “No one is going to hurt your pet, get off him before your papai has a heart attack and he'll be referred to as grey haired Shanks.”  

Luffy pouted as he snuggled into his Tio's arms, squirming as Buggy wiped away the blood on his face. “Mama and Mãe let me play with King.”

“Quit pouting and go hug your dads.” Buggy huffed before continuing even though it put a sour taste in his mouth. “And apologize to Rayleigh for breaking his sword arm.”

“Do I have to? He was gonna hurt King! He hurt you!” Luffy pouted and looked away. But Buggy wasn't going to be swayed.

“He hurt me a long, long time ago, brat.” Buggy sighed. “It’s in the past. Your Pai still considers him family and when in control, which I know you were because I didn’t feel your haki, we don’t break bones, understand?”

“.... okay Tio, I'm sorry.” Luffy murmured sadly. 

“I know, it’s alright.” Buggy hummed, pressing a kiss to his nephew’s head. “Now go hug your Pai and Da and apologize to Rayleigh. You and King can play more after lunch.”

Luffy did as his tio instructed him, giving his shaken Papai a hug before stopping in front of Rayleigh, a little furrow in his brow as he looked at him, dark eyes looking right down to his very soul. “Sorry.” 

Rayleigh went to snap back, pain agonising but his eyes caught the deadly glare from all the Pirates around him, including Ace and Sabo. The doctor that was helping him, his hands pressed a little firmer in his own warning. It was then in that moment that Rayleigh saw Roger more so than he ever did in Ace, the way people seemed to flock around the boy, the way people loved him. 

“You’re mean but you’re sad and guilty too.” Luffy huffed as he kicked at the deck. “If you stop being so much of the first you might do better with the others. I didn’t mean to break your arm. I was mad you kept trying to hurt King and forgot to hold back enough.”

An idea formed in Rayleigh's mind when the kid said that. He knew how strong Monkey Ds were known to be, but he assumed Red had yet to realise that it wasn’t just him that had been tied to this kid. Beckman was a strong man, very close to Newgate in his prime and he wondered. Beckman felt like a near match to Newgate without a devil fruit augmenting him. So Rayleigh definitely wanted to know if Luffy could crush Adam’s Wood if forgetting to hold back a bite that hadn’t even been the most aggressive broke a bone. In fact he had a special piece hidden away, something he couldn't let go of. A piece of the Oro that had a core of sea stone. It was a piece that Cutty had snuck on. 

“I'll be back, give… give me a moment.” Rayleigh swallowed as he got to his feet and shaved towards Shakky’s, his good hand trembling as he pulled out the old trunk. 

His fingers brushed Roger’s cloak and Rouge’s hat till he found the piece buried at the bottom. Setting it to the side Rayleigh quickly albeit reverently packed his late wife and husband’s belongings away once more before hastily shoving the trunk of memories back into his closet. As quickly as he’d come Rayleigh left the bar and shaved his way back to the Red Force. When his feet touched lightly to the deck he immediately strolled forth and plopped down in front of Luffy who just stared back at him from beneath his husband’s old hat with eyes that saw much much deeper than they should. 

Everyone was still where they were except his youngest brats were being fed and Luffy was wiping his mouth with the blood of the roasted Sea King piece Lucky Roux had fed him. Meeting the kid’s too knowing stare Rayleigh ignored the sharp inhales of Red and Blue as he held out the piece of Oro.

“What do you want me to do with this?” Luffy questioned as he tilted his head but accepted the block of wood. 

“I want to see if you can break it. How you do it is up to you.” Rayleigh said gruffly watching as Luffy turned the wood in his hands. 

“Bring a different piece and I’ll try with it.” Luffy said sternly as he pressed the block back into his hands. “Hurting Oro will make her sad.”

Rayleigh blinked and stared hard at the boy, actually crouching to stare at the kid. “This will not. The Oro is safe and whole where I have left her, this was a piece given in a bad storm on the way there that I could not let go. She will not mind, she'd be pleased to know it's for something useful, something to help the child loved by her Red and Blue.” 

“What do you mean help?” Buggy demanded as he stepped closer to his brother.

“Luffy was Ocean Blessed again when he was healed.” Rayleigh said plainly. “Beckman can rival Newgate without a devil fruit and hasn’t even hit full strength. Monkey D’s have monstrous strength on their own. Luffy now has that plus Benn and whatever is going on with this brat’s haki ergo we need to figure out whether we need to teach control immediately so he doesn’t accidentally kill somebody hugging them or if it’s safe to do it alongside whatever training you’d give since it’s official Red’s got his own Cabin Brat.”

Luffy gasped eyes wide and Buggy lurched to note that they were lighter as the sun hit them, more a deep grey than a pitch black. They were still darker than the steel he’d come to know in Beckman’s eyes but the change was clear nonetheless. Luffy really was the son of Shanks and Beck now their DNA just as present as Dragon’s or Coyote’s would be. 

“The kid said it himself. He didn’t mean to break my arm and the punctures despite needing stitches weren’t actually that deep.” Rayleigh said. He would be more impressed if it wasn’t him getting bit. “His bite force alone when he thought he was giving a warning cracked bone. That’s not a kind of strength to play with. I’m not trying to scare the kid but I’ve seen how he wraps around you lot like a python. If he isn’t in full control of his strength he could very well accidentally hurt you in a way you can’t come back from.”

“... what?” Beckman choked out, looking shattered as the cigarette fell from his lips as he lifted his hand to press against his heart, feeling the faint flutter under his own. 

“It’s not a bad thing. We caught it because he injured someone who could take it and can reflexively have haki activate. I need to see if he can damage this so I know if I need to haul my ass back through the new world with you until he can control himself to a more manageable level.” Rayleigh said. 

Something in Buggy ached at the realisation, as he watched his brother and his husband embrace their squirming kid. This kid who burrowed under his own skin. It was an ugly feeling and he tried to quell the jealousy, to push the unfairness of it all under and away before his nephew sensed it… Because yes they're family by choice, but not tied… even after everything he and Red have gone through the Ocean has never blessed him, nor the land… it ached. 

He wanted to step away to give the little family his brother had made time to come to terms with everything that had been revealed and he intended to do just that. However, before he even got the chance to take a single step away from the group a hand latched around his wrist hard enough that he felt his bones creak in spite of the now familiar give of his nephew’s rubber skin. Rayleigh wasn’t kidding it seemed because Luffy had grabbed him countless times now but not even him wrapping around him like a snake and squeezing had made his bones creak like the grip now around his wrist. 

“Tio,” Luffy rasped. 

It ached but Buggy needed to leave, he gave his nephew a small smile and detached his arm from where Luffy was gripping it. “I need to check on my crew Leãozinho, don't worry. I'll be back.”

Call him cowardly but he fled as fast as his feet could take him and in a way that didn't seem like he was fleeing but from the piercing gaze from Red he could feel on his back let him know he failed. Seas, he's such a horrible person, greedy like a true pirate but Buggy wants what his brother has, not the husband or such but being tied to someone. Just a permanent reminder he's worth it. 

Buggy had to admit with pride that his crew were amazing, he couldn't help but praise Mohji and Cabaji for how they had everything prepared knowing they needed to return to the East. He could tell none of them were happy to be leaving their littlest member behind though.

“Are you sure that you want to stop at Alabasta, Captain?” Mohji asked calmly. “We can cut a week off our trip back if we avoid it.”

“Other family has to be informed before we leave the Line. It could take months for us to return due to having to shift the network around.” Buggy said calmly. “It's going to be a shit show that's for sure, more so if they come back with us but I doubt it.” 

Mohji hummed. “You moved the plans up, this have anything to do with the cub?”

“It got out he’s alive.” Buggy sighed. “I need my ear closer to the line to help keep him safe. Ace is in danger too our course was obvious and if Garp’s second let slip just who Luffy’s Pai is then Rayleigh is going to be under watch because everyone knows who raised us bringing those same eyes on to Ace who is the spitting image of Mama.”

“I'll make the calls to the network then, get the ball rolling.” Cabaji said, hands twirling the throwing knives as he eyed the map. “The crew won't care about the timeline, not if it helps keeps the cub safe. You'll have more issues with them sulking about not getting their Luffy hugs.” 

Mohji winced as he eyed the sleeping lion in the corner. “Richie is not going to be happy… you think your brother will mind if the kid has a pet?” 

“I think Red won't care about a lion, considering his son made a sea king a pet,” Buggy replied blandly and by the seas is he going to have a breakdown over that later because what the ever loving fuck!? His Captain never even tried to do such a thing, or if he did then Buggy never knew besides the kraken incident and his Mama loved big wild cats but a sea king!? 

“Excuse me? I don't think I heard that right, Captain?” Mohji asked as he shook his head to see if he had water in his ears. “Did you say the cub has a sea king as a pet?” 

“The one that apparently ate Shanks’ arm at that.” Buggy deadpanned. “I’ll fill you in more later since I’m still working on processing the insanity this morning has been myself.”

“No offence Captain, but your family is fucking insane. ” Mohji exclaimed as he fell into the chair behind him. 

Buggy felt tired and very vindicated because he knew that but no one ever believed him. He was going to take the best Power Nap of his fucking life then and only then would he go back to wrangling his dumbasses. 

“Let the crew know that we will be leaving within the next few days and prepare for the brats goodbyes.” Buggy sighed. “Till then, I'll be in my cabin, I need a nap that isn't awkward with my brother in law, the two kids that replaced me and my brother or Luffy using me as a teething toy at night. If anyone bothers me before I wake and put my make up on then so help me, they'll be my next help with the Muggy Balls.” 

“Understood, Captain.” Mohji said fondly. “Go decompress.”

Buggy sighed the moment he stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. He could feel the sob try to claw its way out of his throat, something he refused to let free because though he told his boys that no one was to bother him… Luffy will come, he was sure of it and he didn't want his nephew to see him break down. 

He hated this, it felt like the Roger Pirates disbanding all over again. It shouldn't but it does. 

Who knew that the great Buggy would come to care for a brat? A Monkey D nonetheless considering it was Garp who brought Captain in, Garp who stood and ordered the execution to happen. It was the day that Buggy stopped seeing the marine as his uncle, because no matter what, he would never forgive that. 

He curled up on his bed and pulled the blanket over him, grunting as he felt one of Luffy's spare sandals smack him In the face. That brat. With a huff he dropped it off the side of the bed and let sleep take him. It was exhausting holding back so much panic all the time. 

He woke to the feeling of a small body crawling into his arms, or trying to without waking him. A huff left him as he opened his arms and curled himself around Luffy like he had done on their way here. 

“Did you let your flashy pai know you're here?” He rasped, not even bothering to pry his eyes open. 

“Uh-huh!” Luffy chirped. “He and Da are talking with old man Ray bout training, cause I broke the Oro piece and Ms. Shakky came to take Sabo and Ace off cause they needed clothes I think. She came with a bunch of their old stuff for me so I don’t have to go where everything feels slimy and scared-sad. I told Da I was coming to nap with you cause you feel scared-sad too.”

“You need to stop worrying about me, Brat, it's mine and all the other adults' jobs to worry about you.” Buggy murmured, keeping his eyes closed and letting sleep creep that much closer as Luffy burrowed under his chin, bumping it like Richie does in affection. 

The silence stretched and it had Buggy coming back to awareness in alarm because the brat was still awake, he was quiet and still something that Buggy had only seen when the kid was hunting. “What's wrong Leãozinho? Tell your Tio Blue.” 

“Tio Blue is leaving soon, Mãe said you had to go.” Luffy hummed but there was no fear in this statement, like something told Luffy Buggy wouldn't be gone. But still, there were all those nights and the sheer panic attack the brat had after he heard Red days ago that had him worried. 

“You know I'm not leaving you right, kid? I hold my family tight, I'm greedy and you're now mine just like I'm yours.” Buggy said firmly. 

A soft shishishi left Luffy, his little frame vibrating with the sheer force of it that tickled under Buggy's chin. “I know that Tio, the Earth bound us in Mãe’s stead cause she couldn't, He did that when ‘kino gave me to you. I'm happy that Tio knows it now too.” 

Seas, why was this brat always taking him by surprise, why is he surprised when by now Buggy should know that Luffy would blow all expectations out of the water. But the ache in his chest eased, the jealousy fading as he realised what the kid has said. Earth Bindings were common, not as rare as Ocean nor did they change your chemical make up, it just means that if Luffy or Buggy wanted to find each other they could. It was kind of like a sixth sense, a vivre card without the vivre card. 

It was a powerful thing in its own right to have such a constant awareness of another person. He’d never heard of someone having as many Blessings as Luffy did. Knowing the brat he’d wind up with even more as the years went by. 

“Sleep, Cub, might as well get our cuddles in before I have to set sail again.” Buggy hummed as he burrowed his nose into Luffy's hair. 

Buggy stood before his nephew, full captain’s make-up once more on his face, his crew behind him and the ship ready to sail. Saying goodbye was hard. He could tell that his brother was also upset, they had just reconnected and a week together wasn't enough. It'll be years till they saw each other again unless Shanks sailed to paradise. But this was the best course of action to protect each other and their Dad’s successor so despite how much it hurt they had to go through with the separation again. 

“Tio looks so cool!” Luffy gasped in awe as he stared up at Buggy with stars in his eyes. 

Buggy couldn't help but smile in pride at that, glad that he looked cool in his nephew's eyes which was a wild change. He could see his brothers awe filled look too as well as Rayleigh’s displeased look but Buggy ignored that. He knew it was because Buggy stood out, made himself an easy target. But the thing about being as flashily fabulous as he is is that it’s exactly what had him heading an information network that would rival Momora’s and Shakky’s. People expected his flashy looks and behavior so when he just walked around with his hair in a bun and his old cloak not a single person looked twice. 

“Bah! Come give your flashy uncle a hug, brat, so that we can set sail!” Buggy laughed boisterously. 

Luffy flung himself up at Buggy with a loud laugh, the Clown Jester spinning him completely and smirking as he saw those not used to his fruit paling as he spliced at his waist. He could hear his brothers chuckle at their antics from his ship. Humming softly Buggy knelt to look his nephew in the eyes and pulled out a braided bracelet of his hair, he had borrowed some of his brother's Elbaf resin to coat it along with some of Richie's mane. 

“Here kiddo, this way I’ll always be with you no matter how far apart we are,” Buggy said fondly as he secured the bracelet around Luffy’s wrist. “Write to me whenever you’d like the Coo’s will get it to me or Uncle Momo is getting an earful from your Tio and I’ll do my best to call on your birthday every year. Okay?”

“Okay! Now go say bye to pai, he's sad.” Luffy whispered before launching himself at Richie.

Buggy snorted and floated over to his brother's ship, taking him in his arms. “You be safe, don't make me come to the new world. Remember my warning.” 

The smile on Shanks' face turned into a petulant scowl. “He's my son.”

“And he’s my nephew, just like you’re my bratty little brother.” Buggy teased as he flicked his brother’s forehead. 

“I outrank you, I was on Oro first.” Shanks snarked as he rubbed at his forehead. 

“And I don’t give a fuck!” Buggy chirped before turning his attention to Beckman, smile dropping into his fiercest glare. “Hurt my Red and I will flay you alive before dicing you into bits that will put my devil fruit to shame.”

“Oi! No threatening the husband!” Shanks laughed playfully shoving Buggy further from Beckman. “I like him in one piece, thank you very much. He’s a good big spoon!”

“I would expect nothing less, if I do, I'll be waiting,” Beckman replied. 

“Smart man,” Buggy said with a nod before turning his attention to Ace and Sabo. “You two behave for Red alright? And help keep Luffy in control until you all reach Elbaf. The giants can handle it.”

“Yes, sir!” Both chirped, leaning happily into the rough hair ruffles Buggy bestowed on them, glad that the man that would be their brother is no longer mad at them.

Buggy continued on and stopped in front of Rayleigh, refusing to turn to gaze at him. He'd avoided more talks with the man, and has even hidden behind Luffy to keep the man at bay because Buggy was still furious. “If I find out that you have treated Luffy the same way Garp has…” 

“I have sworn to that kid you would never hit him. You're his only grandparent, and that's going to actually matter. Fuck Garp and we all know Coyote won't want Newgate anywhere near Luffy.” Buggy drawled, turning to gaze at Rayleigh from the corner of his eye. “He hit that kid with haki in the name of training without ever showing him how to activate his own in defence. I've already spoken to Red and Beckman about it but do not reach for that Kid with Armament if you're mad.”

“… I won’t touch the kid with armament unless he’s actively learning it. I’m not Garp. I don’t hit kids just to hit them.” Rayleigh drawled. “Maybe inform the kid that training does include getting hit at times.”

“He knows, he's smarter than he shows,” Buggy explained, finally turning to pin Rayleigh with a look. “You know what I mean, old man. Do not let this opportunity go to waste because if I find out you made me a liar, if you hurt that kid… Red will be the least of your problems.” 

The silence was loud but there was a soft smile tugging at Rayleigh's lips as he stared at his son. “You're so much like your Mama, she'd be proud of you, they both would be.”

“I know,” Buggy said bluntly before floating his body back to his own ship and wrapping Luffy in one last hug. 

“Love you, Tio!” Luffy chirped, nuzzling his head beneath Buggy’s chin. “Take care of him for me, okay, Richie!”

“Love you too, Cub, now go on back to your Pai.” Buggy said giving the boy one last squeeze before returning him to the ground. 

Watching Luffy sling himself across the gap made his heart ache because he knew the little boy he’d dragged from East blue would be near a man before he saw him again more than likely. He knew they would meet again though. Buggy could feel it in the barely there tug on his awareness that told him where Luffy was even as he turned to face his crew instead. Luffy would grow up strong and loved and that was everything Makino had asked of him. He’d kept his word and protected the little brat until he’d delivered him straight to Red’s arms and now it was time for him to go. 

“Set sail!” Buggy barked as he made his way up the steps to the upper deck. “And make it flashy!!”

His laughter was loud along with Red's and Luffy's as they sailed away, sails fully unfurled with his Jolly Roger for all to see for the first time since they got here. His crew did make it flashy, throwing a non deadly muggy bomb that they used for shows for the kids that sent out sparks and colour. Buggy kept his eyes on Sabaody till he couldn't see his family anymore and turned his gaze towards home. 

“We'll see em again, Captain.” His crew called out but Buggy waved them off, he already knew that. 

Though, he does expect a call later from his brother when he sees his gift. Because Shanks knows Buggy doesn't cut his hair, can't cut his hair and used to do that to keep track of Shanks when they had to separate, blessing or not, Buggy was fucking paranoid okay? 


With a shake of his head he went back to his cabin, gathering all his blades he had hidden from his nephew and sharpened those that needed to be tended to. It felt good to be him again. A feral grin pulled at his lips as he made his way back on deck, taking a seat on his Captain's chair as he overlooked the seas, oh he hoped he ran into hunters between here and Alabasta. Buggy had a swath of rage and anxiety to take out on those that were hunting his treasure. He couldn’t wait to make them bleed.

Chapter Text

Buggy had been in Alabasta for no more than an hour and already he was sick of it. Thankfully his uncle had come in with information needed on Coyote. Though, he probably didn't need it as his eyes landed on the massive casino before him, statues of bananawani's protecting the doors.

A sense of foreboding and a nightmare brewed in the back of his head as he saw live Bananawani's in the river that flowed around it and knew that if he had come here with Luffy, he'd be either trying to save his idiot nephew from being eaten or having to explain to his brother that his son had one of the most deadly crocodiles on the line as a pet… he'd probably prefer the sea king… and his nephew would 100 percent try and make it a friend. 

“When my informants informed me that Gol-Silvers Buggy was on my shores, I nearly fired them on the spot, because I recall being told that you were very adamant that you'd never step in the Line again.” Coyote stated from behind as Buggy took a seat in a small oasis on the other side of the river, the shifting sand the only warning given to Coyote’s arrival. 

“Extenuating circumstances.” Buggy said with a shrug. “It’s been a long time Coyote.”

“It has. Why are you here?” Crocodile hummed as he came around to stand in front of him. It blocked the bright sun so Buggy wasn’t complaining. Coyote had always been taller than Buggy being older but he grew into those Edward genes. 

“Dragon, Coyote, really?” Buggy said in exasperation. “You fucked Dragon? I thought you had taste. I knew you two had a thing… but still!”

“Who I have or haven’t taken to bed is none of your business, Blue!” Crocodile snapped, feeling his hackles rise at the reminder of his time with Dragon, at the flood of memories that resulted in a stillborn child Dragon hadn’t even let him look at before Ivankov changed him and sent him on his way. 

Buggy stared at his oldest friend, seeing the devastation hidden under that blank mask. It just made him angry, furious that all Monkey Ds are fucking idiots. No, not all just Garp and Dragon. “What happened, Coyote? It's not like you to let things slip or let Dragon get away with what he did.”

“What are you on about?” Crocodile demanded. “I haven’t been in the same room or even the same island as Dragon in nearly 8 years now!”

“I'm talking about the fact you let that bastard hand your son over to Garp to raise!” Buggy replied furious, letting everything he'd been feeling out. 

“My child died, Blue, they never even drew breath outside my body.” Crocodile choked out. “They died and Whitebeard’s daughter, Coyote D Ammit, followed them. Dragon never let me see or even hold the life I carried inside me. He just sent Ivankov in, let him kill Whitebeard’s daughter, and had me sent on my way.”

“I don’t know what son you’re referring to but Dragon was as much of a whore as his father so whoever you met was not mine.” Crocodile finished panting harshly. 

Buggy stared as Crocodile broke before him. The sheer rage in those dark eyes, the crackle of haki that leaked out of him and the utter devastation on his face. It was reminiscent of the days back on the Oro after Blue had found him in the cells, had snuck him on board. 

Oh Dragon was going to get fucking diced…

His heart ached for his friend. “Coyote… Dragon lied. Your child survived, he's a little shit that's for sure. Has your jaw and nose, that glare down pat. If it wasn't for the Ocean Blessing, he'd be a mini you.” 

“What?” Crocodile managed to choke out, desperation on his face. 

Buggy carefully grabbed his friend and pulled him close as he collapsed to his knees, staring up at him in desperation. He pulled out four pictures, one of Luffy as a baby, one of Luffy before the Ocean blessing and two after one of which was barely two weeks old and now showed the new dark steel shade of Luffy’s eyes. “Your child survived, Coyote.”  

“I… I had a son…” Crocodile choked out as he stared at the photos. “My son… Blue… Blue, I had a son.”

“You did and by the seas I think he’s some kind of chaos deity wrapped in human skin.” Buggy said with a short bark of laughter.

There was a break coming he could hear it in his old friend’s voice but that would be okay. Buggy had to the best of his abilities always been there for Coyote. He’d been the one to steal him away first after all, one of Buggy’s greater achievements. 

“What's… what was he named?” Crocodile asked, fingers running over the small face in the pictures. 

“Luffy, his name is Benn D. Luffy.” Buggy replied with a smile, pulling out the last picture, his picture of him, Red, Beckman and Luffy with the two other brats. “When you meet him Coyote, don't ever refer to him as a Monkey D. He takes pride in being Red's kid, that and he has your cold anger with the Monkey D rages.” 

Crocodile took the images in greedily, he brushed away the two oldest looking kids and stared at his son. He was older than the previous photos, hair glinting like rubies in the sun just like Red's, smile wide, wider than it should be telling him his son has a fruit. There were no traces of Dragon on the boy's face but Crocodile could see where the Ocean had subtly changed his son and Crocodile found vindication on it because Blue was right, his son did have his features.

“What… What happened?” Crocodile asked as he leant more into Blue’s embrace as he pointed to the bandages that still clearly covered the boy.

Buggy held onto his friend tight, almost with his entire being while coated with Armament because he knew what was about to happen. “Luffy was on Dawn in the East Blue, the woman who raised him did all she could to get him to me… Red… Red made sure Blue was known and that I'd help if they ever needed it. Someone found out the brat was Dragon’s and we all know what the government is like… They just decided a buster call was easier than another child slaughter.”

Crocodile snarled and struggled to remove himself from Buggy’s arms, sand shifting under his skin. He needed to rage, to do something. The government tried to kill his son, his son who was no longer his but Red's… his son that fucking bastard Dragon gave to Garp of all people. Garp who was just as bad as Whitebeard when it came to their kids, the reason why Crocodile even considered Dragon as an option to begin with and the very man Dragon swore to never let near their child… He gave… A roar left Crocodile's mouth at that, his haki tearing out of him with force. 

He had gone through hell to carry his pregnancy and hated himself every step of the way. His skin had always felt wrong before but it only became worse as his body showed he wasn’t what he felt he was. It had burned and itched and he’d been unable to even look in a mirror without vomiting because all he saw when he did was Whitebeard’s daughter. He wasn’t anyone’s daughter. Despite all that, despite the hate and sickness he felt when he looked down at himself, he had loved his child. He had wanted his child. He still did and Dragon fucking stole him.

Buggy held on for all of it even when the sand whipping around came so fast he could feel it slashing into his skin. Once it got to that point he simply shielded his eyes against the larger man’s back. He didn’t know how long they stayed like that though he knew his body ached when the anger gave way to grief and roars turned into sobs that wracked violently through Crocodile’s frame. Even then he didn’t let go though the position did change where Crocodile had his face buried into the curve of Buggy’s neck as he broke. 

It had been a long time, a very long time since Crocodile showed any form of vulnerability to people, that he let his walls crumble like the sand he commands but this was Blue, Blue had seen Crocodile at his worst, had snuck him out of Whitebeards cells and onto the Oro nearly collapsing himself from the strain to hide him after. He and Red were safe, they were the most trusted in Crocodile’s circle even if he never shows it or they hide the fact for their safety and his… His son… He was glad that out of everyone it was Red who found him… the only better option would have been Blue.

“Do you trust me?” Crocodile rasped once his breathing came back under control. He needed to flee, this place was too open and he couldn't risk someone seeing them. 

Buggy didn't hesitate. “Yes.”

“Sables,” Crocodile stated as he turned into sand and wrapped around Blue, shifting them back over to his private quarters on the Rainbase where no one would interrupt them.  

Buggy couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose at the sensation. He never liked Alabasta much; sand just got uncomfortable after a while, but he’d tolerate it to be there for Coyote. They both collapsed the moment they landed on the enclosed balcony, Buggy nearly leaping forward to catch the taller man only to be dragged to the floor. 

“How could he do this to me? Why? He knew I wanted the child… knew that even though I suffered through the dysmorphia I wanted.” Crocodile choked out. “Blue… Blue… why… if he didn't want my hatchling then why not let me keep my son? Why give him to Garp!? Did L-Luffy even know he was wanted, that he was loved?” 

“I don't understand!” He continued the grief turning to rage once more. 

“I know,” Buggy soothed gently. “I know, Coyote, but I can’t tell you what I know unless you calm down. You’re going to make yourself sick at this rate.”

“He stole my fucking son, Blue!” Crocodile snarled. “He was mine. I’m thankful for Red but damn it Luffy was supposed to be my son.”

Buggy held him tighter. “And he still can be. He can have a Da and Papai… he can have a Baba… seas knows that brat deserves all the love and parental affection.” 

There was hesitation in Buggy as he thought over what to say next, if he should and said fuck it because Coyote deserves to know. “Luffy has the Voice of All Things and Garp beat him, ‘trained him’ to the point his observation, Conqueror’s and armament are all unlocked. He did that as a child… But Luffy told me he remembered Dragon telling him he wasn't wanted.”

The snarl that left Crocodile rattled his bones, fucking double dosed Ds, but Buggy figured it best to continue. “Cipher Pol found them when Luffy was two and Luffy was shot in the escape. It got him in the leg but according to Luffy, Dragon handed him over to Garp quickly after that. Garp took him to a young cousin in East Blue who raised him like he was her own. I’m fairly certain they were Land Blessed but as far as I’m aware Makino died while buying me time to get away so they’d think Luffy died with her.”

“It worked… for a while. Her brother was on the same island as us and tried to kidnap Luffy. I assume to take him back to Garp.” Buggy huffed. “They didn’t keep quiet about it. Marines on Sabaody were spreading word he lived. I expect some kind of bounty within the next few weeks. Garp can only stall so much. That said, Red is taking him to the deeper part of his territory in the New World.”

Crocodile heaved, breaths coming out in sharp pants as his mind whirled over everything. He refused to enter the new world, or perhaps… no, he would return even if at risk of running into his bastard of a sperm donor or his coward of a big brother just to meet his son. But Crocodile's plans have changed, fuck his desire to rule this desert wasteland even if it was heaven. He was going to make Dragon pay.

“I'm going to kill him..” he hissed furiously. “I'm going to fucking kill Dragon and take great pleasure doing so.”

“No, you are not.” Buggy replied aggressively, teeth bared, not even flinching when that glare snapped to him or when Crocodile used his height and bulk to try and intimidate. Jokes on him, Buggy found it hot. 

“He deserves it!” Crocodile snarled, haki flaring.

“So you would grant him peace? He caused that ball of sunshine I now call my nephew, your child, so much suffering. He caused you so much pain. Fuck death, he deserves to have his skin flayed, he deserves to see his world crumble to ash and left to rot.” Buggy snarled back just as furious, cold and uncaring. “Let him suffer in his failures, no one to call his own, let him waste away for the end of his days and wish for mercy but never get it because you and I both know he's too prideful to take it.” 

“… I still want to kill him.” Crocodile said petulantly. 

“Tough titty.” Buggy snarked. “Luffy doesn’t like him either but he did specifically ask us not to kill him. Luffy isn’t big on killing just to kill. I assume because he remembers the incident that ended up with him in Garp’s care and now the Buster call. He can feel everything, Coyote, he felt all their voices pop out of existence. He talked around it but I’m pretty sure he keeps tabs on Dragon too.”

Crocodile grimaced, hand coming up to run through his hair. He remembered the migraines that Roger got from the Voice, remembered how Oden did all he could to meditate when he had free time to quell the onslaught. His son was so young, so little control over his Haki presumably to help him quell the voices on his own. His rage simmered into an ire as he turned to look at his oldest friend appraisingly. 

“You grew to be sharper, little dagger.” Crocodile hummed, giving him the nickname Rouge always called him. 

“It’s been a lot of years, not all of them good.” Buggy huffed with a rueful grin. “You should go lay down, you look like you’re about to collapse, Coyote. We’ll be around for a few days yet no one on my crew has bounties aside from me so they’re enjoying being able to just explore.”

“Stay with me.” Crocodile blurted out before he could think. 

Buggy fought down a blush at the words. Okay so maybe, just maybe, his old crush on Coyote wasn’t quite as dead and buried as he thought it was. “Are… are you sure? I don’t mind, of course, whatever you need.”

“You're the only one I can trust to sleep near me, Blue. You're the only one I feel comfortable seeing me this way… and you're one of the two I can count on to help me take down Dragon.” Crocodile replied. 

“Alright,” Buggy said after a moment before dragging first himself then Crocodile to his feet. “Let’s get you in bed then, sweetheart. You going to change or just pass out in a full suit?”

“I’ll change. Give me a moment.” Crocodile said, running his hands through his hair before pausing and actually taking in the sand clinging to his friend. “Would you like a change of clothes or a shower? I know you always hated feeling sand in your hair and clothes. They’ll be big but I can loan you something while the staff cleans what you’re wearing.”

“I'd appreciate it, thanks Coyote. I'll let my crew know that I'll be here and get my second or third to bring me a new set and my make up.” Buggy hummed as he pulled out his den den, pausing. 

He could ring Red, could let Crocodile hear his child's voice. He'd have to tell Red anyway, will have to let Red and Coyote talk because his brother was greedy like a true pirate and possessive. His son wore his most prize possession that he didn't let anyone touch besides their mama and Captain. Buggy was rarely allowed to touch or handle it, the only reason he got away with it now was because Luffy trusted him with it… but, no, his brother was possessive and trusted friend or not, if Coyote tried to take Luffy from him he'd rain hell on him.

He'd wait while Crocodile showered before dialling his brother to let him know that Crocodile had been informed after a quick call to his crew for a change of clothes. He’d call again before they left to continue back East for Crocodile to hopefully be able to talk with Luffy a bit, Buggy decided as he trailed after Coyote into one of the most lavish bathrooms he’d ever seen in his life and half listened to the older man’s instructions on where to find towels, soaps, and sinfully soft looking robes. 

Buggy was absolutely going to steal that robe when he left, no questions about it. Forcing himself back on track he considered the fact that Red’s emotions were still running high from the time he thought Luffy no more along with the stress of getting to Sabaody to see his son again. 

It may have been his brother’s idea to inform Crocodile once Buggy had told him of his very accurate suspicions but that didn’t mean he’d appreciate another parental figure moving in so quickly. Crocodile also needed to come to terms with everything over just rushing to the New World. Buggy wasn’t entirely sure the man would do well mentally if he stumbled across his sperm donor before he could reach Elbaf. 

Maybe… maybe he could convince him to join him for the journey back East? Buggy wanted to swing by Dawn in hopes of finding something of Luffy’s old life to help him remember the woman that raised him past the shawl and bandana he slept wrapped in each night. He was far from against Coyote’s continued company for a time and the older man to some degree felt the same if he was asking Buggy to stay so he could sleep. That hadn’t happened since the first few months after Buggy first stole him from the depths of the Moby mostly because he calmed faster from the nightmares if he or Red were the first things he laid eyes on when he snapped awake. 

It was another reason to hate Dragon, another reason to make that man suffer. He stripped himself methodically, laying his daggers on a clear tabletop away from the water, the bombs and everything else he kept on him there too before stripping. He let his clothes drop in a pile, all but the little sling he had made to hold his nephew to him, it was now something he couldn't go without. It was a reminder so to speak. 

“You carry more daggers I see.” Crocodile hummed impressed as he stepped up behind Buggy. “Impressive. I see some of Aunt Rouge’s daggers.” 

Buggy smirked. “Stole them from Rayleigh when I left Sabaody while Luffy distracted him with the replacements. That brat is cunning and he knows how to use those wide eyes of his.”

“He sounds smart.” Crocodile hummed, raising a brow at the snort he got in return.

“He's an idiot, smart but still a flashy idiot.” Buggy chuckled as he began to pull his hair free of the pony tail and elaborate style he used while wearing his Captain's hat, freezing as he felt Coyote's hand trail along the scar that covered the majority of his back and then to the fresh bite mark that rested on his upper arm. 

“This one is new…” Crocodile hummed as he carefully brushed his thumb along the scar tissue of the bite that was still new enough to be an angry red. 

“Luffy is a biter, especially when he gets scared or you mess with something that’s his.” Buggy said with a small shrug. “Or if you call him a Monkey instead of a Benn. He nibbles in his sleep at times but this is the only actual bite I got while he was in my care.”

A feral smirk followed as his eyes locked on to Coyote's in the mirror before him. “Used that bite to break Rayleigh’s arm though.”

“Why on earth was my son biting Silvers Rayleigh?” Crocodile asked with a wrinkled nose. “Seas only knows where he’s been.”

“He tried to cut the kid’s pet sea king.” Buggy shrugged before leaning over to shake the worst of the sand from his hair with a grimace, pausing slightly. “... well that was one of the reasons. He didn't like how Rayleigh was making me feel.” 

“Oh?” Crocodile asked hand carding through the blue locks and gathering the sand with ease. 

Buggy bit his tongue hard to keep in the whine as he straightened, now fully aware of their current positions and state of dress, and fought down the blush that threatened to burn across his cheeks. “Like I said, he hears everything. He’s attuned to people's feelings, knows what Rayleigh did and isn't happy with the old man for hurting his Pai and Tio. It was hard to actually scold him and not ply him with treats for a good job.”

“My Blue that wrangled Red all over creation rewarding feral behavior?” Crocodile teased noticing the change in demeanor from the younger man. “Mah, the seas must be soon to dry.”

“I–I still wrangle Red and now his mini me, but by the seas it was good to see Silvers cut down a peg or two…” Buggy rasped, that ‘my’ ringing loud in his ears.

“Think I could set him loose on the old bastard?” Crocodile huffed as he sent the gathered sand out the window. 

“Not risking Luffy near him with his adoption habit.” Buggy grumbled. “But he would break the old man, Monkey D strength on top of Ocean Blessed with Beckman… he's from the north Blue version of Jaya. The industrial one.”

“Oh he’s going to be a Monster.” Crocodile hummed impressed. “I'm not surprised on the feral bit though. Monkeys are known for that due to chronically being double dosed Ds… oh shit…”

“What?!” Buggy yelped startled by the sudden panic in Crocodile’s tone. 

“I’m double dosed and so is Dragon…” Crocodile said after a moment, practically leaning his entire weight against Buggy as he realised what monster he had created. 

His son was going to turn the seas upside down, the sheer chaos that would follow in his wake… 

“I am not thinking about that at all, nope, right now I wish to bathe and destress and try to enjoy the chaos Red is about to experience with two double dosed Ds on board.” Buggy exclaimed, diverted really because nope not today Calypso, not today. 

Crocodile hummed letting his hand settle on Buggy’s hip as he stood up properly once more. The teasing had been a nice break from the hell wrought on his emotions earlier in the day but Buggy wasn’t wrong in pointing out that he was exhausted so with some tired parting words Crocodile ambled back out of the bathroom and into his closet to change for a much needed nap. Unknowingly leaving a thoroughly flustered clown in his wake. 

Once clean Buggy gathered his blades and everything else, wrapping them carefully in the sling as he dressed himself in the clothes Coyote laid out for him. He swam in the clothing, it honestly felt like he was a kid again and draping Captain's cloak over himself and Red… but this was different, he could smell the cigars Coyote preferred along with the desert at night… a furrow of confusion marred his face in thought… did Crocodile hand him a..? Nahhh, Buggy was just tired. 

Shuffling out of the bathroom he scrubbed at his face with a sleeve covered hand as a loud yawn broke past his lips. He’d call Shanks in the morning the bed was calling and he hadn’t had a decent night's sleep since he left Sabaody. Noting that Crocodile was on the balcony smoking a cigar Buggy opted to just go ahead and crawl into the frankly massive bed in the center of the room. He wasn’t jealous but also he absolutely was because the damn thing felt heavenly. 

“I'd kill for a bed like this, truly I would.” Buggy groaned as he grabbed a dagger and placed it within reach. “My entire network for this bed, Coyote.”

“It is a very nice bed.” Crocodile chuckled. “I’ll join you in a couple minutes, Blue.”

“Mmm, take your time Coyote. I'm the one intruding on your space and time even if invited, I know you had many things to do.” Buggy murmured as he got comfortable on his stomach, completely missing the look he got in return.

“It’s never an intrusion when it’s you, Blue.” Crocodile hummed softly as he finished the last of his cigar and snubbed out the last remaining embers. “Never when it's you.”

Even though his words were not heard, they were honest. Blue had saved him from the depths of the Moby, he and Red kept him hidden and safe. They earned his trust completely and he knew without a doubt that neither of the two men would break that. It showed when Blue turned up on his shores, furious and ready for a fight that he never would have wanted, but would have for someone he cared for. It was a fury he had seen in defence of him on many occasions, never one to bend to his sperm donor's command that they refer to him as a daughter, Crocodile couldn't even remember if they ever referred to him by his dead name. Thus, they were the only two that got away with calling him Coyote still.

Buggy woke a bit from his light doze when he felt Crocodile climb into bed next to him but didn’t immediately move from his comfortable position until he felt an arm wrap around him and drag him back against a well muscled chest. A very well muscled chest, holy shit. 

“Is this okay?” Crocodile asked softly. He’d let go if Blue asked but this had always been how they slept after his rescue. He’d missed it, missed his Blue. 

“‘S fine,” Buggy mumbled glad for the darkness that hid how his face had turned to match his nose. “Whatever you need, Coyote.”

Humming Crocodile buried his face into the crook of Blue’s neck and let the steady beat he could feel under his palm lull him into sleep. “Missed you, my Blue.”

Chapter Text

Buggy groaned softly as he felt the familiar poke and detached his hands for Luffy while collapsing back into bed never once opening his eyes, he was having the best sleep of his life with a fantastic dream and he really didn't want to wake up just yet. “Go eat, then come back.”

“What…?” Crocodile asked bewildered at the hands now latched to him and the ear that was hidden slightly in his hair. He blinked slowly before facing Blue once more, this was an action Buggy had done a lot but not one Crocodile could remember. “Blue, what the fuck, why?” 

Buggy groaned and pushed himself up enough to glare in exhaustion at Crocodile through his hair, pulling back his limbs. “Habit with Luffy, now, I was having the best sleep of my life, go eat and come back for more cuddles.” 

“I was going to have something sent up. I can stay.” Crocodile hummed as he carefully brushed the hair from Buggy’s face only to get shooed off a bit. 

“‘S fine,” Buggy slurred, still more asleep than awake even as he dragged himself to a sitting position. “I need to call Red anyway and let him know you know. Hopefully catch him before he gets too far from the Den Den or during the brat’s breakfast.”

Crocodile watched as Buggy dragged himself into a sitting position, the shirt he had given him hanging slightly off one shoulder. “Very well, you can use my office while I acquire us food. Is there anything specific you want Blue?”

“Coffee. Strong. Food, whatever.” Buggy grunted as he stood and stretched. “Give me ten minutes.” 

It didn't take long for Buggy to gather the Den Den to call his brother while Crocodile was getting food. He could hear the older man in the other room speaking with someone but he was still too exhausted to care. 

‘ Blue? I wasn't expecting a call, our next scheduled time is in two days.’ Shanks stated and Buggy couldn't help but wince as he heard the underlying worry. 

“Sorry, I wanted to let you have a few days to process.” Buggy yawned out. “Made it to Alabasta and Coyote. He knows about the cub now.”

‘How'd he take it?’ Shanks asked after a beat.

Buggy stared blankly at the snail. “How would one take it if you thought your child was dead. Dragon didn't even let Coyote see his baby, just told him it died in birth.” 

‘.... tell me you're joking. No, I already know the answer. I take it you have plans now, seas knows how protective you were of Coyote then let alone now.’ Shanks drawled out, fury bubbling. ‘ We knew Dragon was a little broken but never cruel. Seems we were wrong. What's the plan?’  

“I’d like to convince him to come East with me.” Buggy hummed softly. “He’s not in the mental space to handle going to the New World and risking an encounter with the old bastard. I slept with him last night.”

Shanks sputtered slightly. ‘ ... good for you, I know how long you've been crushing on Coyote.’

“Was the best sleep of my life.” Buggy huffed as he stretched again. “Not going to lie, I'm kind of plotting to steal his bed. Something that comfy should be a crime… wait… what does my crush on Coyote have to do with anything?!”

‘ ...Oh, thank the seas you meant actually sleeping. I love you, Blue, and I'm glad we're talking again but for a second there everything within me shuddered violently thinking you were telling me about your sex life.’ Shanks replied with said shudder. 

Buggy opened and closed his mouth a few times and chose to ignore that. He wasn't awake enough, though he couldn't help but groan and cover his face because he could now hear what he said. “Okay, back… Back on track. Red, Coyote wanted Luffy.”

“Mine.” Even over the Den Den Buggy swore he could feel his brother's Haki. 

“Yes, this is why I'm calling, Red. He wants to meet Luffy, not yet, that's my decision but he does.” Buggry replied unimpressed but not surprised. “That kid deserves all the people that love him around him. He's still your son Red.”

Doesn't mean that if Red fucked up and pulled a Garp or Dragon and kept making that boy think he was unloved that Coyote wouldn’t help Buggy steal him. 

‘As long as he knows, but you're right, Anchor deserves the world.’ Shanks hummed softly . ‘I'll talk with Beck and then we can talk with Coyote. If what you said is true then he does have the right to speak with Anchor. Not like we'd be able to stop him or say no if my son wants to know his other parent.’ 

“You know you'll always be his papai, Red, you and Beck are Papai and Da, if Luffy will call Croc anything it'll be a nickname or Baba.” Buggy reassured knowing exactly where his brother's head was at. 

There was a loud bang on the side of Shanks’ call, followed by Red's muttered curse and sigh. ‘ I need to go, your nephew is being a menace.’

“ My nephew, oh nope, that kid being chaotic is all yours.” Buggy teased back with a wide grin, turning his gaze towards Coyote as he stepped into the room. “It was me always dragging you out of trouble.” 

‘ Blue, he just had Ace explode flour , so no, he's your nephew right now.’ Shanks stated bewildered and rushed out a quick bye as Luffy’s maniacal laughter filled the line. ‘ Fuck, ANCHOR GET BACK HERE! YOU'RE GROUNDED, NO RIDES ON THE SEA KING! BECK! Fuck, bye Blue!’ 

Buggy just laughed as the snail disconnected. He may miss his brother and nephew but he definitely didn’t envy the chaos at all. His crew got up to enough for his tastes. Crocodile for his part just looked bewildered but he’d only caught the tail end of the yelling so he had no clue what Luffy had done. 

“The cub convinced one of the older brats to make an explosion with flour and his flame fruit.” Buggy snickered. “So apparently Shanks is grounding him from sea king joy rides.”

“Did I just hear that Red was being responsible though?” Crocodile asked incredulously. “I figured that would be the job of the husband you mentioned.”

“Most of the time it is, but Red does do his best.” Buggy shrugged. “I had it easy. He was comatose for the majority of the time he was in my care but he’s legitimately feral. Makino raised him yes but he spent most of his time in the forest with minimal if any adult supervision.”

“The kid is terrifyingly independent and even with caregivers will hunt, fish, and even cook his own food when the option is available.” Buggy continued when he saw how much his friend wanted to hear more about the son he’d never gotten to meet. “That being said, he hates being alone, especially to sleep. When he’s overwhelmed he likes contact, preferably squeezing as hard as you can without haki but not necessarily conversation though he does really love stories made up or true doesn’t matter.”

“… I want to meet him, Blue.” Crocodile said after a moment before shaking his head. “No, I need to meet him.”

“You will, Coyote, though maybe not as soon as you’d like. Red said he’d tell Luffy about you today and call me at our scheduled call with what he decides. It needs to be Luffy’s choice.” Buggy said gently. “From my intel you don’t have a crew and ship proper anymore since you’ve started trying to build a mercenary group, so… I’d… I’d like you to join me in going back East. I don’t think it would be good for you mentally to go racing off to the New World right now and Shanks wants to get the kids mostly settled in Elbaf too.”

“ Blue,” Crocodile managed to get out unsure if he should be angry or happy at the decisions and concerns. 

“Coyote… come to the East with me, I need to go to Dawn… help me find something to give to the brat that reminds him of home.” Buggy begged, he wasn't above such things. “I want you to come with me, Coyote, and maybe if you're lucky, you'll cross Garp or that bastard he calls a second and can have a few choice… hits.”

“You’d be stuck with me for months.” Crocodile said ruefully. “Unlike the old bastard and Dragon, I can't use my Conqueror’s to shortcut our way through the Calm Belt. I never trained it much after seeing how the old man used his.”

“We lived on the same ship for over a year while you recovered. I would not be stuck with you.” Buggy huffed. “But if you really want to call it that you’re the last person I’d mind being stuck with.”

Crocodile rolled his eyes at that making Buggy snort. It was nice, honestly, to know that his friend hadn’t changed much from the one he had known before his life went to hell. Breakfast was a peaceful affair for all that the coffee did nothing to wake him up much to his misery. Like a conciliation prize though Crocodile looked equally as miserable with his bloodshot eyes and croaky voice. 

“Will you tell me more about him?” Crocodile asked softly as he shuffled his eggs around his plate instead of actually eating them. 

“He's a brat, like I said he's very independent, has provided for himself most of his short life. He's like sunshine, always happy but oh so lonely. His Haki is astounding, all forms of it and though untrained he will use it perfectly if needed. I spent what little time I had to help his observation, he can already hide himself and others, though it makes him sick to do so…” Buggy trailed off, gazing far away as worry churned in his stomach. 

He spent days helping him with his Haki, not realising that it was so detrimental to his health. Bile still churned in his gut when he thought of how he’d been training Luffy while totally unaware that he was being slowly poisoned by the seastone embedded in his wounds. 

“He's strong, Coyote, not just physically but in every way that counts.” Buggy continued, swallowing harshly. “You’ll love him, seas, you’ll have no choice. You know my stance on kids, I was very adamant on not becoming attached but the kid wasn't even awake for me to love him.”

“I’ve loved that kid since he first existed, Blue.” Crocodile said with a sad smile. “From the moment I first felt the flutter and it brought in reality that I was creating life.”

“I may… I may have hated myself but there was not a second that I didn’t love my hatchling.” He continued, hand resting over where he had felt his baby so long ago. 

Buggy reached over and placed a comforting hand on Coyote's arm. “I had no doubt about that after yesterday, Coyote.”

“Do I really have to wait so long to meet him, Blue?” Crocodile asked softly. “I’m willing to go East with you. My seconds can more than handle things here but I’ve already waited 8 years to hold my baby…”

Buggy kept his eyes on him. “I am very well aware you are only listening to me because of our history, Coyote, but what if you face Whitebeard before you meet Luffy? What then? I want to be there if that happens, I refuse to let that bastard hurt you again.”

Crocodile so desperately wanted to say it would be fine, but it would be a lie. Yes, he'd want to see his son but if his sperm donor caught him in the New World… Frankly, Crocodile would lose his shit and he's terrified the old man would never let him go again.  He couldn’t go back to being her, not now, not ever. 

“Very well. I'll go to East Blue with you as long as we stop by Alabasta to gather my people before we head to the new world.” Crocodile acquiesced before getting up, he needed to think and needed to start preparations.

Buggy was glad, truly he was but he also swore to never step foot back into the New World, yet here he was. He was a pushover with a bleeding heart. But Coyote and his men weren’t bad allies to have to face the New World again. 

“Of course.” Buggy said easily. That had been his plan to begin with. 

It was only a few hours later that found Buggy walking into Coyote’s office, hair and make-up back to how he liked it after speaking with his Second who had come to deliver fresh clothes and all he would need… only to pause at the man in front of him, a snarl pulling at his lips as he surged forward with a dagger pulled. 

“ What have you done with my Coyote?” He asked low in a snarl, dagger pressing warningly into the skin of the fake’s jugular. “If you have hurt him in any way it will take decades for them to find all the pieces I will split you in.” 

The yelp that left the fake was decidedly not the rough timbre of his Coyote’s voice though the right hook wasn’t far off from what he remembered from his youth. The next words that left him however did sound like the Crocodile. 

“Who are you?!” The fake snapped back and if that wasn’t proof nothing else could be. 

“Your worst fucking nightmare if you hurt my Coyote.” Buggy snapped. “Now, where is he?!”

The fake took too long to tell him the truth and Buggy immediately began to throw daggers, watching as they dodged every single one till there was nothing left in Buggy's sheaths. His body coiled ready to spring, if he couldn't kill the bastard with knives then he'll take a page from Luffy's book.

“ Blue.” Crocodile, his Coyote, called just as Buggy lunged towards the fake. Large, strong arms wrapped around him tightly. “Bentham, I warned you what would happen if you did this.” 

“You said he’d be suspicious, not that he’d try to kill me!” Bon Clay huffed as he clapped a hand to his face to make his transformation fall. “He’d make a nice addition to my collection… though to be honest the nose is a bit unfortunate. ”

“ The fuck did you say about my nose?!” Buggy snarled loosing a dagger faster than Crocodile could stop him that embedded itself in the wall barely to the side and behind the imposter’s head 

“How did you even manage to take that?!” Crocodile asked incredulously as he stared at the dagger he kept hidden up the sleeve of his hook arm. 

“Never doubt my ability to get my hands on a blade.” Buggy huffed. “Now let me cut him up… just a bit.”

“No,” Crocodile replied, eyes snapping to his third unimpressed as he went to take his Blue's face for his collection. “Do not. I cannot even begin to describe the rage that will ignite in me if you dare.” 

“ Touchy, touchy !” Bentham pouted but nonetheless he did back off though not without a dramatic sigh. “ Fine , I won’t add your little boy toy to my collection.”

Buggy snarled and lunged forward once more only to be jerked back and held firmly within Coyote's arms. Had he been a little less murderous he’d have been blushing at both the hold and how tiny the older man made him look. Stupid D’s being stupidly tall. 

This thought had Buggy's ire sputtering as a dawning realisation hit him. There will come a time where he wouldn't be able to hold his nephew comfortably, there is going to come a time where Coyote's genes and Dragon’s kick in. Buggy is both looking forward to that day and not, only because Red is going to be shorter than his son. Taking a deep breath, he nodded and stepped out of Crocodile's arms, letting him know he was calm for now. 

“How did you know I was not Sir Crocodile?” Bentham asked as he finally dropped the visage of Coyote. 

Buggy grunted as he gathered all his daggers, sending him a bland look before cocking his brow at Coyote before answering. “I’d know my Coyote anywhere and you are not him. You're good, but I've known him for a long time. Plus, my observation haki is advanced, can't really fool me these days. Coyote, I'll let you settle your affairs, I'll make my way back to the ship.”

“Party pooper!” The imposter called teasingly as Buggy left the room before pouting at Crocodile. “Really? That one, Mr. C? He doesn’t seem like much fun at all!”

“My friends are none of your concern, Bentham.” Crocodile grunted as he dropped into his chair. “ Or yours, Daz, I promise he knew you were hiding in the storage room the whole time.”

“But Crocodile! It is not often we get these juicy tidbits into your past! I didn't even realise you had friends besides us.” Benthan hummed as he twirled around and sat on the desk. 

Daz merely sheepishly left the storage room, he wasn't hiding perse, he was doing inventory when the clown broke in and lost his mind. But he was curious, he'd been around Crocodile enough to know that several people have referred to him as Coyote and all have died. What was so special about this pirate? What did he do for his oldest friend to give up months of planning and risk letting everyone know he had vanished so to speak. Even they didn't know where he was going, only that he had to. “Boss, I know you can take care of yourself but… Has the Clown done something to force you to give up your plans? To risk the marines knowing you're gone?”

“I promise you, Buggy hasn’t coerced me into anything. The biggest card in his arsenal he’d never play against me at least.” Crocodile shrugged. “There’s merely some things that require my attention that Buggy was kind enough to offer his ship and assistance.”

“Then we will trust your word and do as you asked, it will be my greatest performance yet!” Bentham laughed. 

“I am not sure how long I will be gone for, but when I return we all will be travelling to the New World with Buggy to conclude my business.” Crocodile continued as he tidied his desk after Bentham made a mess of it. “I will have my den den if you need me, there will be a coo bird every three days for reports.” 

While Crocodile finished up everything, Buggy stormed back to the ship. They were leaving a day before schedule, Crocodile was desperate to get everything else done so he could see his hatchling. Buggy didn't mind, he wanted to get back to the rest of his idiots. Plus, his uncle Momora had sent him reports, he'd personally gone to Dawn and while there wasn't much of it left… There still could be things to find.

His stride ate up ground in his ire though, still annoyed by the face stealer his friend has in his employ and small circle, the slight against him and just… Bentham was very lucky… though Buggy did realise he was being more like Red and his Brat than Blue in that moment, all impulse and no cunning. 

“Everything is ready, Captain.” Mohji stated the moment Buggy stepped back on the Big Top, Richie was still pouting at his feet. 

Richie was one of the ones not a fan that their littlest member wasn’t with them, the lion was very much pouting and huffing all over the place no matter what Mohji tried to do to cheer him up. Honestly at this point Buggy was going to drag said lion into his room when it was time for his call with Red and the cub just to get some peace. Seas knows how many times he can wake up to the creature snuffling his chest in search of Luffy.

He couldn’t blame him too much though Richie had taken his job of looking after Luffy very seriously and you rarely saw the lion without Luffy in the vicinity or with the kid on his back when not attached to him. Hell, he still missed the weight of the kid against his chest. 

“Good, once our guest arrives, we’ll set sail. Hopefully, we’ll be back in Orange Town in a few weeks, Calypso willing. Seas only knows what the brothers have torn up in our absence…” Buggy said as he gave a good scratching to Richie’s head. “I miss him too, cub.  Maybe you can talk with him a bit when they call for a check-in tomorrow night?”

Before he could continue, a swirl of sand interrupted him as Crocodile appeared on deck in all his 8’4 glory, towering so close to his back that Buggy could feel the heat of him. 

“Permission to come aboard, Captain ?” Crocodile said with a cocky grin that Buggy could hear. 

Buggy didn’t even need to look to know the older man had yet to make his lower half solid once more. He could hear the soft shhhing sound as the sand whirled lazily to keep Crocodile hovering just above the deck. 

“Granted.” Buggy huffed with a roll of his eyes that was punctuated by the soft thud of Crocodile’s boots hitting the deck as he allowed himself to form proper and fall the short distance to the deck beneath him. “C’mon, I’ll show you to your room while the crew gets ready for cast off.”

“Cabaji, make sure we have enough Muggy Balls, Momora sent word that East is infested with Marines. So Garp is doing something right for the first time in his life.” Buggy explained as Cabaji stepped out on deck, his third nodded as he turned right back around and back inside. 

Crocodile followed Blue silently, eyes watching everything and everyone around him and couldn't help but be impressed. It seemed Buggy was exactly like Rouge when it comes to being a captain. His Blue had come so far from that stab-happy, deer-like teen. 

“I've given you my cabin for the trip.” Buggy explained as he opened the door, letting Coyote inside. “Hope you don't mind, there's not a lot of empty cabins on the Big Top right now that can accommodate you, I'm sorry, Coyote.”

“It’s fine, Blue. Where will you be?” Crocodile asked as he set down the large duffel bag containing his clothes. 

“Don’t worry about me, Coyote,” Buggy huffed fondly. “There’s a couch in my office and empty bunk rooms since I didn’t bring my entire crew.”

“I’m not kicking you out of your own quarters, Blue.” Crocodile said with a frown. 

Buggy shot his friend a smirk over his shoulder. “It's a good thing you're not kicking me out then isn't it?” 

“Don't you turn phrases and find loopholes with me, Blue, I know you better than that.” Crocodile stated blandly. “You can just bunk with me, you know I don't mind, not when it's you.”

“It will take at least three weeks to get back East since we aren’t cutting through the Calm Belt, Coyote. I doubt you want to share a bed with me that long.” Buggy deadpanned. “My couch is sinfully comfortable. You can have the room and I can pop in once you’re ready for the day to get anything I may need.”

The bland look didn't leave Crocodile's face. “And if I want you to stay with me? Perhaps I enjoyed the fact that I was able to sleep with someone who I know won't stab me in the back? Or perhaps I know because of a little birdie some time ago that you sleep better when you sleep with another person in your bed too and frankly Blue, you look like shit.”

“You’re not going to drop this, are you?” Buggy huffed. 

“No,” Crocodile said without a beat of hesitation. “I won’t.”

“Uuugh, why can I never say no to people?!” Buggy huffed as he threw his hands in the air. “Can't say no to you, Red or Luffy… especially Luffy and if he ever finds that out I know whose knees to go for.”

“Knees?” Crocodile asked with a snort. 

Buggy shot him a bland look, “Bring you down to my level for once.”

“If you wanted me on my knees, Blue, all you had to do was ask.” Crocodile chuckled, missing Buggy’s spit take.

“ Coyote!” Buggy yelped much to Crocodile’s amusement. 

“Yes?” Crocodile responded easily. 

“ You can’t just say shit like that! ” Buggy whined before it fell into a grumble as his face stayed flushed red. “Damn tease.”

Crocodile merely chuckled as Buggy fled the room. Dark eyes tracking the figure leave, Blue had always been interesting to him, a contradiction to everything he portrayed and maybe if he ignored Roger's shovel talk long ago then perhaps he wouldn't be in this position now… but you wouldn't have had a so n… He had seen a vicious Blue before, been there a few times when people had tried to grab Red, once even him from before, and it was beautiful… but Blue now? The way he fought Bentham, something deep in him purred.

Chapter Text

The journey out of the Grand Line was about as peaceful as one could be for such a deadly sea but Crocodile would have had to be blind to miss how the tension bled from Buggy’s shoulders as soon as the ship crossed into the East Blue sea. He hated himself a bit for missing just how uncomfortable his friend had been while they journeyed together and hated more that him trusting Dragon’s word is what had Buggy back on the line. 

He knew perfectly well the horrors of the Line that Buggy had experienced, if not more so. Roger was a much better captain and father than his own sperm donor but then again, Crocodile had known from a very young age that the Rocks Pirates were a little broken. Whitebeard may have been the nicest of them all, the supposed humblest but Crocodile had seen the monster underneath that placid ‘Pops’ exterior he wore.

Though while Crocodile thrived in the Lines, his D blood singing with the chaos, his friend wanted a calmer pirate life even if he was as chaotic as a D. and Crocodile didn’t begrudge him for that. Even he chose to be mostly land based the past several years due to his enjoyment of Alabasta’s climate. So he didn’t fault his friend for his preference of peaceful seas in the slightest. 

“Glad to be home, Blue?” Crocodile asked as they got ready for bed on their first night back in East Blue. Orange town was still a week away and Dawn another week past that. 

“You have no idea,” Buggy chuckled as he pulled off his shirt and tucked away his knives. “The East Blue is the right amount of chaos for me.” 

Crocodile chuckled, knowing the truth of the East. Everyone believed that the East Blue was the weakest of the seas but they obviously have never actually put two and two together. Roger, Garp, Dragon, hell several other supernovas of his generation were from this sea. People known for looking death right in the face and grin, Monsters of their own… not only that, Crocodile had seen the animals that live here. It was as Buggy was wiping off his makeup that suddenly the whole ship shook and attack alarms began sounding across the ship as crew began yelling. 

“Captain!” Mohji yelled as he burst into the room without knocking. “The marines are attacking! It’s Garp the Fist!”

Buggy dashed out the door immediately as the ship rocked with the familiar force of that old bastard jumping from his Doghouse to the Big Top. Rage ignited within him as he saw his crew being knocked unconscious as Garp charged towards him, absolutely hates how the rest were facing off against Garp's crew.

“ Brat! WHERE IS MY GRANDSON? GIVE HIM TO ME!” Garp snarled furiously the moment his eyes landed on Buggy. 

“I DON’T HAVE HIM, YOU UNFLASHY FUCK!” Buggy snarled back as he split apart to avoid a punch. 

“He’s safe and you’ll never lay a hand on him again!” Buggy hissed as he threw a knife that embedded itself in Garp’s shoulder. “Now get off my fucking ship!”

“You broke my nephew to steal him!” Garp growled, continuing to come at Buggy in his rage.

It was then that he managed to grab hold of the wrap Buggy had yet to remove for the night and used it to throw Buggy violently into the mast of the Big Top. “You wouldn’t still wear this if he weren’t with you!”

Buggy felt the world still and become silent as he heard a tear in the wrap, his eyes snapping down to the little rip in the sling that had protected and carried his nephew for weeks with no issue, the very one that his nephew had on the day before they separated added a little wobbly patch of material from Makino’s scarf and a scrap of his own shirt with his own hands. No one knew Luffy knew how to sew but apparently he had watched Makino fix a many of things in her spare time. It was one of his treasures now. 

“I broke your fucking nephew for trying to take mine! For calling him a Monkey when he is a Benn! He didn’t even ask about his sister! He just snapped at the brat and spoke to him like an animal!” Buggy snarled furiously. “He’s not fucking here! Good luck ever trying to get to him, because my brother, Rayleigh and Gaban will make sure you never see him again.”

“ He is mine!!! ” Garp howled furiously as his Conqueror’s haki rattled the air. “Dragon only knocked up Newgate’s whore of a daughter because I demanded it for me to let him leave!”

“... excuse me?” Buggy asked voice calm as can be, a razor grin tugging at his lips that if Garp was paying attention to would know it meant danger. Because that smile was a Rouge smile, one that ended with an unholy amount of pain. Blue eyes flashed electric and thunderous, cold as a glacier. 

“He is your nothing !” Buggy hissed as he broke apart and blade upon blade flew from his flying hands. 

Blades that missed their mark were plucked from the air by the very hands that threw them just to go flying again a breath later. 

“You beat him. Hurt him. ” Buggy snapped coldly as his hand ripped out the first blade he threw that buried itself into Garp’s shoulder. 

“You search for him when your people are the ones that had him on the verge of death for months.” Buggy growled laughing coldly as one of his blades sliced through Garp’s Achilles heel. “You running your fucking mouth got your niece killed as she brought him to me for safety because you couldn’t be trusted! You running your fucking mouth made my nephew the most hunted child in the fucking world!”

Garp grunted as the volley of blades and punches didn't stop, his own hits missing their target, even with his haki. Of course Roger would teach his street brats how to negate his own, how to withstand conqueror’s. Buggy didn’t stop as he advanced further, all the while snarling.

“ You are the reason he flinches when he sees armament!” A kick that made his bones creak and rattle with the force.

“ YOU are the reason he’s so small and malnourished because you forced a child to unlock their haki for survival!” A dagger to the side, twisted brutally before it was yanked away just as viciously as it was plunged into his flesh.  

“YOU'RE THE REASON HE DOESN’T THINK HE’S LOVED!” A vicious smile and bared teeth was what Garp saw before he felt the teeth latch onto his jugular and tear, he was just lucky enough he got his armament up in time. 

Garp staggered back, hand coming up to stem the blood as he stared at the feral brat before him with new eyes, the Blue one was always the weak one everyone knew that. Buggy merely laughed mirthlessly as he saw the appraisal in the old man's eyes, just where had the man his Captain called friend and brother gone or was what they saw back then a mask? A shake of his head and Buggy stalked forward. “You will never touch that kid again, you will never see him again. Now. Get. Off. My. Ship!” 

With those words the trap he’d been laying finally activated as Garp stumbled bloody and well beaten into the path of the very special cannon Buggy was so proud of. The very cannon that his men had prepared and turned to face the direction of Garp’s ship as Buggy corralled him into its sights with his vicious attacks. 

A boom and a pain-filled scream filled the air as the cannon holding his Buggy Ball launched its payload straight into Garp’s chest, sending him flying off the deck as Buggy turned to walk away. He hoped it killed him though he doubted it would, he still hoped. 

“Kill any marines left on deck and throw them in the sea.” Buggy ordered coldly before his eyes landed on Bogard. “This one is mine though.” 

“Oh, I may have promised the brat I wasn’t going to kill you, but that was then and this is now.” Buggy chuckled as he split and reformed behind the bastard before he could even blink, stabbing the serrated dagger into the fucker’s spine with a twist. “I won’t kill you now either, but you’ll never walk again, you will remember this moment where I could have spared you mercy but chose not to.” 

Bogard gasped as he felt himself begin to fall to pieces, his body only being held up by the clown behind him, an uncomfortable and painful ripple washing over him. He choked as another hand wrapped around his throat and in a blink he was staring into a nightmare. 

“Should have kept your mouth shut.” Buggy whispered as he let his fruit wash over the bastard and walked him back till he was half leant back over the sea. “My thanks for being a distraction, let's see how much Garp considers you important. Better pray one of your men cares to fish you out otherwise. ” 

“Get rid of the trash on my deck and then set course to the nearest island and inspect the ship for damages.” Buggy barked before going back to his quarters. He needed to repair Luffy’s wrap before more of the stitching came undone and wash it before Garp’s blood tainted it with stains. 

He walked straight past Crocodile not even noticing the way his eyes tracked his every move hungrily as he rushed back to their shared quarters. He didn’t stop till he was in the small bathing room connected to his cabin, carefully and gently washing the blood off of his hands before tending to the sash. He’s going to need to wash it several times before it would be clean again, just in case before fixing it. His heart clenched as his thumb brushed over the tear, fury igniting and there was very little to debate when he said fuck it before going to rush back out on deck and just split the entire Marine Ship to pieces out of sheer spite. 

He doesn’t even care that it revealed his strength to the marines, that his carefully closeted secret of his awakened fruit and such was exposed or that it raised his bounty. He was leaving his home anyway, it would be worth it, so fucking worth it in revenge for his nephew and the way the old bastard referred to his Coyote. He wasn’t a D but he was raised by them and the possessiveness wore off on a person quick. Luffy was his and so was Coyote. He’d be damned before he let any of their old demons hurt them again while he was around. 

When he returned to cleaning Luffy’s wrap he still neglected to notice the way Crocodile was staring at him. The look was even hungrier after the older man had witnessed the power of his awakened fruit. However, all of Buggy’s attention was on the wrap as he washed and washed and washed and even washed again until finally the water no longer had a pink tinge to it. It was when he went to stitch it up again that Crocodile spoke. 

“You should finish cleaning yourself up too, Blue.” Crocodile said gently. “I’ll watch over it while you shower all the blood off.”

“I—I need to fix it,” Buggy swallowed as his gaze flickered up to look at Crocodile in the mirror behind him, hands shaking. “Coy—Coyote, I can't.”

If he stopped then everything he just did would slam into him and the panic would start. If he stopped he couldn't be sure if he could hold himself together. He pushed his fruit too far, and could feel the bruising already forming on his body where he couldn't dodge Garp's fist. 

“I’ll put you back together if you break, Blue.” Crocodile soothed. “You just spent so long cleaning it, ayouni, you wouldn’t want to get it dirty again because you’re still covered in blood, would you?”

“Help, please, I–I can't let it go." He rasped.

“Of course,” Crocodile said gently as he carefully pried Buggy’s fingers from their tight grip on the fabric. “We’ll keep it on the counter so you can see it the whole time you’re getting clean, okay?”

Once the damp fabric was free from Buggy’s hold, Crocodile carefully folded it and placed it on the corner of the vanity before turning his attention back to his Blue. “Do you need help with your clothes?”

“It is using all of my will not to split into pieces… overexerted fruit…” Buggy swallowed and panted a little. 

“That’s okay.” Crocodile soothed as he kneeled down and undid the ties holding up Buggy’s pants before carefully working them and his underwear down. “You’re doing great, Blue. Just let me handle the rest.”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry you have to help me, that you had to hear what was said…” Buggy whispered as he leaned into Coyote. 

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Blue.” Crocodile said sternly as he lifted Buggy’s legs from his pants one at a time carefully ignoring what was very close to his face before standing. 

Letting Buggy continue to lean on him, Crocodile quickly stripped out of his own clothes. Though he did leave his own underwear in place for the sake of some decency before gently ushering Buggy into the shower and turning on the water. Gently Crocodile scrubbed all the drying blood from Buggy’s hair and skin until the water ran clear. 

“We’re almost done, Blue, how are you feeling?” Crocodile questioned as he gently worked conditioner into the younger’s long blue hair and got out any tangles he’d put in through the process of washing it. 

“I'm so fucking angry…” Buggy rasped, eyes clenched tight. “Coyote… what did I do… oh seas, what did I do!?” 

Crocodile caught Buggy as his legs collapsed, breaths coming out in sharp pants as his limbs shook and fought to stay attached. Remembering how Shanks used to wrap himself around Buggy when he panicked, Crocodile quickly did the same as he shut the water off and lowered their bodies to the floor of the shower. It only took a moment before Crocodile had his arms wrapped around Buggy and his head tucked firmly under his chin to make it impossible for Buggy to fall to pieces. 

“You kicked Garp the Fist’s ass.” Crocodile huffed. “Was very entertaining to watch, though I would advise against biting him again, seas only knows where he’s been.” 

“… he tasted like a salty bitch.” Buggy grumbled. 

“What even possessed you to bite him to begin with?” Crocodile asked, glad for the fact that the distraction was working both for calming his Blue down and keeping his mind off the fact he was holding him and Blue was very much naked. 

Buggy let out a small hysterical laugh. “For Luffy, he’s a biter and I get the feeling he never got to bite his shitty grandfather in retaliation. Now I can tell him…” 

“I bet he’ll get a nice laugh out of that.” Crocodile hummed. “Are you able to hold together while we get comfortable?” 

“...I am not sure… I… maybe…” Buggy choked out, shaking still but closed his eyes to keep his control. 

“Then focus on that, just let me care for you Blue, let me have that honour.” Crocodile whispered as he got to his feet with Buggy carefully cradled in his arms. 

“Lu-Luffy’s wrap… n-need to fix it.” Buggy whined softly. 

“I’ll hang it to dry over the chair so you can keep an eye on it and you can fix it in the morning once you feel better.” Crocodile said calmly as he sat Buggy on the counter and gently dried his skin. “For now let’s get you dressed. Clothes help you stay together easier if I remember right.”

If Crocodile chose to dress Blue in something of his over the younger man's own clothing then that was between him and Blue. It wasn’t at all because Crocodile really liked how much his Blue swam in his clothes or that it emphasized just how much smaller the younger man was. He just wanted his Blue comfy is all. 

It took more than a little maneuvering to get the blankets pulled back with Buggy cradled against his chest but Crocodile managed. As such Buggy was soon settled in his preferred spot by the wall and Crocodile followed soon after to wrap the man tightly in his arms before pulling the blanket over them. 

“I need… I need to call Red. Garp won't stay down long and he’ll go for Luffy.. Fuck, I’m a fucking idiot.” Blue gasped, struggling to get out of Crocodile's hold. 

“I’ll call Red, it’s okay. Your brother won't let anything happen to Luffy.” Crocodile stated and he believed the words completely, it was the only reason why he wasn’t breaking down in stress that his child was in danger because Red would kill all who even dared. “You just sank his ship and badly wounded both him and his second. He won’t manage to start a chase tonight. It will hold until morning.”

Buggy didn’t say anything else as the exhaustion finally pulled him under, safe as he was curled up in Coyote’s protective embrace. He knew that tomorrow was going to be long, his body was going to ache all over and it would take several more days before he regained the stamina he lost doing all he had done. 

Crocodile merely held him close, savouring the moment as he clicked his tongue the way Buggy did when he wanted to summon his snail to him. The little creature woke slowly and made it’s way over, the white shell that reflected Buggy’s features shifted to his own as he picked it up and dialled Red. He said it could wait till tomorrow but he knew that when, because it will be a when, Red finds out what happened and that Crocodile didn’t inform him immediately, well… Crocodile was the target of Red’s anger once and that was because he teasingly took the hat and that was once too many for his tastes. 

‘Hi this is Benn D Luffy, future King of the Pirates!’ a child's voice called out, stealing the breath from Crocodile completely. The last check in he and Red had spoken, he had yet to speak to Luffy as Red wanted to be sure on what Crocodile had wanted both on his stance with his role and what to be called. 

“ Habibi… ” Crocodile choked out, eyes closing. He so badly wanted to speak with his son, but Red needed to know what had happened. “I need to speak with your pai.”

‘Huh, who’re you?’ The little voice said as the snail tilted its head and squinted at him. 

“An old friend of Red and Blue, little one, now please fetch your Pai for me.” Crocodile huffed fondly. 

‘Pai! Someone’s on the snail for you!’ The yell was a bit distant as the snail lost Luffy’s features as he stepped away. 

‘Anchor, we’ve told you not to answer the snail if no one is in the room.’ Red’s voice filtered through then. ‘What are you even doing sneaking in here while Bonk Punch and Monster are taking their smoke break?’

‘Tio Blue feels scared-sad-mad and he usually calls you when that happens so I came to wait for it.’ Crocodile could practically hear the nonchalant way Luffy shrugged but internally he panicked. 

Buggy had informed him that his son had the Voice of All Things but the fact that Luffy could sense Buggy from the New World was something he never expected. The Voice of the World was rare to hear and as far as he was aware there had never been anyone so in tune with it that they could sense someone across a distance that would take months to traverse safely. 

‘Okay well I’ll handle this while little anchors get back into bed with their brothers.’ Red said fondly. ‘ We’re stopping to do some hunting for a restock tomorrow and you’ll need your energy.’

The sound of retreating feet filtered through the call before Red’s visage took over the snail after a few moments of shuffling. 

‘Is Blue alright?’ Shanks questioned immediately. 

“Is he gone?” Crocodile stated, unwilling to say anything that his child could overhear, he didn't want to upset him. 

‘ Anchor, bed. Don't make me get your Da and tell him story time is to be held off tonight, I'll find out what's wrong with your tio.’ Shanks stated firmly and Crocodile couldn't help but huff as he heard the small whine but retreating feet.

There was a long suffering sigh as Red returned. ‘ Kids, can't live with them but can't live without them. How bad is he?’

“Bad.” He replied, hearing a sharp inhale. “He's not badly injured, Red… But we had a run in with the Fist.” 

‘ Garp.’ A low growl sounded at that, the snail flickering. ‘ What happened, Coyote?’

“Garp attacked the ship and Blue, demanded Blue to return his kid.” Crocodile sneered. “Your brother… unleashed hell on him, the man is going to learn not to mess with Blue but he knows where Luffy is now, Blue rubbed it in as he was tearing the Fist apart that you'll never let him see Luffy again.”

“We learned a bit more during the fight but that mainly pertained to me and why I was told Luffy was dead.” Crocodile huffed. 

It had made him feel ill to know that there were still people that knew him from before that referred to him as Whitebeard’s daughter. It had only been made worse to learn that the man he had fancied himself in love with at the time had only seduced him for the sake of convincing him to make a child to give to his abusive father as a replacement. 

‘ What was said, Coyote? ’ Shanks questioned gently. Normally he’d leave comforting the man to Blue but his brother wasn’t in the right mental state for that. 

“Garp… Garp ordered Dragon to impregnate me and give him the child in exchange for letting Dragon leave the Marines without hunting him down…” Crocodile rasped. “Said Luffy was his and Dragon only fucked Whitebeard’s whore of a daughter because he said so…”

‘ You are no one’s daughter, Coyote.’ Shanks said immediately. ‘ And no one ’s son either. You’re Crocodile. Ammit has been Dead for a long time, long before Luffy was even born.’

“I know that… but damn it’s nice to hear someone else say it too…” Crocodile choked out. 

Shanks chuckled low, it was a familiar one, a rueful one. ‘ Tell me Blue tried to stab the Hunter for that. Because I know how protective Blue is of you, Coyote.’

“Blue managed to stab him, bite him and then proceeded to shoot him with a frankly impressive cannonball.” Crocodile chuckled, turning his head to nuzzle into the soft blue strands as he felt Buggy shudder. “But he was furious beforehand, you and Blue are exactly the same when it comes to precious treasures. The Fist tore Blue’s sash he wore for Luffy. Red, he split Garp’s second to pieces after crippling him for life. He was going to inform you tomorrow but he's not doing too well.” 

A soft keen slipped out of Shanks. ‘ Panic attack? Fuck, he can't hold himself together, if you've done the usual steps… I know you hate it, Coyote, but laying your conqueror’s over him gently will keep him stable.’

“I… I don’t know if I have the control for that Red…” Crocodile said hesitantly. “That’s what the old man did to keep people in line and I’ve purposefully never trained my conqueror’s haki to keep from accidentally manipulating people the way he does.”

‘ Coyote, it's not the ability, it's the person. If you have the Will to do that, then that is what'll happen.” Shanks said firmly and made note to visit the old man once Luffy was safe. ‘ Captain hated using his that way, as did Rayleigh and if they knew what Newgate was doing back then properly, we never would have stopped mama.’

Crocodile swallowed and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He hated using this haki with a passion but if his Blue needed it. “Okay, what do I have to do?” 

‘ Think of it like a blanket, wrap it around him, calm and most of all solid. It'll keep him rested and whole.’ Red explained softly. ‘ Thank you, Coyote, for calling, for caring and not listening to my brother when he tried to push you away so he wasn't being an inconvenience.’

“I owe your brother everything, Red.” Crocodile murmured as he carefully focused on wrapping his haki around his Blue. “ Everything . I’d have died in that cell had his haki not been sensitive enough to find me there.”

‘ He's good like that.’ Shanks replied but there was a tone to it, sad and something Crocodile couldn't pinpoint. ‘ Thank you for calling Coyote, and for making Luffy get me when I know how badly you wish to speak with him. Let Blue know that you told me, and that I'll put Hibiscus level actions in place if Garp does come. You take care of him for me and when he's better to call me.” 

Crocodile hummed and spent the next several minutes saying goodbye before hanging up, turning to Blue in his arms with a churning stomach as he lay his conqueror’s over him, doing exactly as Red had said to do. The reaction was instantaneous, the trembling stopped, the shifting of body parts trying to separate and join stopped. It eased Crocodile immensely that he had done something right with his haki. He could tolerate the discomfort if it meant his Blue felt better.

Chapter Text

The next few days were rough to say the least as Buggy spent most of his time in bed exhausted and blanketed in Crocodile’s haki. Mohji and Cabaji handled the crew and after a half day long stop to inspect the ship for damages they were sailing to Orange town at full speed it would be better to have any other attacks happen when they had the full force of the Buggy pirates over the skeleton crew that had crept through the grand line to safely deliver Luffy to Sabaody. 

By the time the ship docked at Orange Town, Buggy finally felt well enough to walk without help or need the comfort of Crocodile's haki keeping him together, didn't mean that Crocodile stopped hovering. He kept silent at Blue’s back with a cigar as he eyed the town and port, only to blink in surprise as Blue gasped and surged forward towards a woman with green hair waiting for them at the end of the docks in a wheelchair. His brows rising higher as Blue dropped to his knees before her, hands shaking as he reached up to touch the freshly healed burn scars.

“Welcome home, Blue.” Makino said softly as she covered his hand with her own. “I’m sorry I had to put so much on you, honey.” 

“Lu… Luffy said he couldn’t feel you anymore, Green..” Buggy choked out. “ Makino , how? How are you here ?!” 

“I’ve been suppressing my Voice.” Makino said gently, reaching forward to brush tears from Buggy’s face. “If Luffy could sense me he would have known how hurt I am and would have insisted you come back so he could protect me. He’d have torn your ship to pieces when you denied him that for his own safety.”

“We can talk more later though. You’ve had a long journey to a place I know you hate, Shanks was very thorough in telling Luffy about you.” Makino hummed motioning for Buggy to stand before waving her hand behind her. 

Like apparitions, the twins suddenly appeared at her side… wait… did… did the twins… his rookie twins just use Shave?! “Yes Ms. Makino?”

“Boys, be my dears and get the others to handle the trip maintenance on Top. She and those on board have come a long way and deserve their rest.” Makino said with a sweet smile. 

“Yes ma’am, we’ll get everything taken care of Miss!” The twins chirped before shaving away once more with a faint call of  “Welcome back, Captain!”

“Now, with that handled, let's get you and Luffy’s parent up there back to the house the mayor was kind enough to give me.” Makino said with a crinkly eyed smile. “There’s dinner on the stove and I can’t wait to hear about your adventures, Blue honey.”

Buggy stared slack jawed at the woman as she began to wheel away, staring desperately back at Coyote with a questioning look. Because what the fuck… his idiots were well behaved, they barely even greeted him, did this woman mutiny him!? And how did she know about Crocodile? 

A little hysterical laugh escaped him as he ran his fingers through his hair. “ Monkey D's I swear to Davy Jones, are going to be the death of me.” 

“Why do I get the feeling I should be very afraid of that young woman?” Crocodile asked as he came up behind Buggy. 

“Because that… that is the woman Luffy calls his Mama.” Buggy said after a moment. “And I think she stole my crew.”

“Oh,” Crocodile replied as he watched after the woman, this was the woman who cared for his child. That had entrusted Blue to guard and protect him till he found Red, the one they thought died. Green that Buggy referred to fondly, that caused a flush on his cheeks when he had finally told Crocodile of their interaction on their way back to East Blue. 

“I think she did too and I feel like she is not one to be kept waiting.” Crocodile stated as he brushed past his Blue and towards the house. 

He could see the fondness in the woman’s eyes that was directed at his Blue and frankly, some part of him was jealous especially seeing how fond Buggy was of a woman whom he’d spent less than an hour in her presence… but Crocodile could share if it was what his Blue wanted, it's not like he himself didn’t also enjoy the company of both men and women, and she was deadly to look at and Crocodile could appreciate that. 

The atmosphere in the little house was warm in a way that symbolized a home and Buggy was amazed at how Makino had managed this in her recovery during the months he’d been away. There were even pictures on the walls. Pictures he recognized from the copy of a scrapbook in Red’s care that had originally come from the green haired young woman who was rolling into the kitchen. 

“Makino, how?” Buggy breathed. There were more pictures that featured her with a baby Luffy going back to when she was still barely a teen herself than were in the scrapbook in Red’s quarters. 

“Luffy was always wanted even if the government didn’t know it. As such I always kept important documents and pictures as well as funds in a safe in the cellar of my bar.” Makino hummed as she used the counter to pull herself up from her wheelchair with a noticeable wince to check the pots on the stove. “It was a gift my Pai gave Mamãe just after I was born made fully from seastone. The twins were nice enough to go search for it for me but only had time to get the photos since marines were still polluting the area.”

“Makino, should you be standing?!” Buggy asked in a panic though he did distantly make note to ask who the hell her father was to afford a safe made from fucking seastone. 

“I’m fine for short distances and such, for now stop your worrying. Go set the table for me.” Makino said, motioning to the table next to a large open window. “The dishes are in the cabinet against the wall there.”

Buggy did as he was told immediately; he'd heard that tone more than enough with his own Mama and knew better than to waste time. He made sure to pause by Coyote though as the taller man was bracing himself against the wall with a blank face but his haki screaming agony and loss as he brushed his fingers over the oldest looking photo of when Luffy was still a baby, barely even two by the look of it. He truly did look like Coyote. He brushed his hand along his friend’s back and side, leaning into him for a quick hug to let him know he was here but left him to his thoughts, Buggy could tell he wished to be left alone right now. 

“It’s nice to know how handsome he’s going to grow up to be.” Makino said softly as she gently slipped her arm into Crocodile’s to help her stay standing. “Sorry to hold onto you like this, dear. I’m not quite to standing unassisted yet.”

“I’m sorry as well for what my cousin did to you.” Makino continued after a beat of silence. 

“Don't be sorry, for needing support or for Dragon being a utter fucking bastard.” Crocodile rasped out. “The only apology I want is his, I want to look him in the eyes and gut him for telling me my baby was dead.”

“ Excuse me, he did what?” Makino asked sweetly but the haki that laced the word stated pure venom.  Both men flinched at the sudden flare of conqueror’s haki that made the house rattle around them. 

“Of course she has it too!” Buggy whined as he placed the dishes out on the table. “ Fucking Monkey D’s!”

“I didn't before… it's new.” Makino stated primly. “But when one tends to blow up an entire Marine Ship and said marine ship and the bastard that it belonged to makes threats about their baby well one tends to want to destroy them by will alone.”

“You… continue to scare the hell out of me and we barely know each other. I hope you know that.” Buggy said with a whine. 

“You’ll adapt.” Makino said with a shrug before turning her attention back to Crocodile. “I’m sorry, Dear, I’ve been so rude! Hanging off of you like this and I haven’t even asked your name! Mãe would smack me into next week if she knew!”

“Crocodile.” He stated staring down at this small slip of a woman and trying very hard not to squirm under her penetrating gaze. 

He's a veteran pirate, a warlord! One of the voices of Paradise and feared by many and yet… being Coyote around Blue was different, the younger man had seen Crocodile at his worst and most vulnerable. Yet, this small slip of a woman that barely even reached his elbow made him feel exactly like that as the man he is now. 

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Crocodile, I'm Makino.” She replied with a sweet smile. Crocodile was beginning to see how she’d wrapped Blue’s entire crew that had been left behind around her finger. It was a dangerous skill to be so disarmingly charming. “Though it seems Blue has taken to calling me Green while he was away and Luffy called me ‘Kino once he was old enough to figure out Ks.” 

“I had to think of a code name!” Buggy huffed in exasperation. “Mine and Red’s are after our hair so I knew he’d know what I meant if I called you Green!”

Makino merely laughed before patting Crocodile’s arm gently. “Would you mind helping me to the table, dear? If you’d like to keep looking at the pictures, I’ll bug Blue for the help instead.”

“Gladly, but I would like to hear more about my baby, Blue can only tell me so much but I missed… all the important milestones.” Crocodile stated as he helped Makino to her seat, using his fruit to grab the already prepared side salads off the counter and onto the table before realising what he had done. His eyes snapped down to the woman who was watching his hand that he wasn't using to gather everything and follow the trail of sand back to his arm. 

“Handy, it seems that besides Red, Luffy attracts those like him.” She chuckled, earning a snort from both Crocodile and Blue. 

“I would hate to disrupt that image but it's in fact Red who attracts those with fruits around him. He has a habit of accidentally causing one to consume them by accident.” Crocodile chuckled. “He dared me.” 

“He scared the shit out of me as I was looking at mine and I ate it in fright thinking it was Mama.” Buggy exclaimed dryly. 

Makino laughed, “Then it seems he is three for three as he caused Luffy to eat his out of spite.” 

Buggy spat the sip of water out of his mouth coughing. “He did what now?” 

“He upset Luffy and Luffy decided to stress eat. Unfortunately, what he decided to stress eat was the devil fruit they just took.” Makino chuckled. “He ate the whole thing, his cute little disgusted face was adorable.” 

“We really need to ban my brother from being near kids without fruits.” Buggy deadpanned. “Once is bad but three times?!”

Makino just giggled as she began dishing the food out onto plates and sliding them in from each man. “You should have seen Shanks’ face when Luffy’s arm just stretched and stretched. He swore everyone on his crew to never mention a word about it to you if they ever ran into you again but I made no such promises.” 

“That's because Red gets lectured every time by Blue about being an idiot and devil fruits.” Crocodile chuckled. “I cannot even tell you how many times I heard Blue here yell at his brother over the accident. Thought between you and me, if you ever need to distract them just ask them what pole is colder.” 

A sly smile pulled at Crocodile's lips as he stared this woman in the face. “If you want to fluster Blue though, just tell him how pretty he looks…” 

“Threatening to kill him works pretty well too.” Makino giggled. “He had heart eyes when I brought out my gun and threatened him.”

Buggy’s gaze flickered from one smirking face to the other, face aflame. “Letting you two meet was probably a very bad idea…” 

“Oh, Blue, don’t say that.” Makino said as her eyes got teary. “You’ll hurt my feelings!”

Buggy jolted to his feet, knees slamming into the table and knocking over the glasses of water. He dropped to his knees before Makino with a hammering heart as a tear slid down her face, her shoulders shaking. “Oh, don’t cry Green, I’m sorry!” 

Blue eyes shot to black who looked just as panicked. “Coyote! What do I do!?” 

“How the fuck do I know, Blue,” Crocodile exclaimed just as panicked. “I’m not used to being around crying women Blue! Uh, oh!” 

Crocodile immediately leant forward and pulled the chair with Makino towards him, along with Blue until they were bracketed between his legs and wrapped his arms around them, pulling both of them into a hug, awkward though it may be. Immediately a soft giggle filled the air as Makino patted each of them on the arm and realization hit Buggy like a ton of bricks. 

“ You’re where he picked that shit up ?!” Buggy yelled, pulling away from the hug to look at Makino’s smirking face. 

The outburst had Makino breaking into full blown laughter her head thrown back against Crocodile’s chest as she wiped her face. “Oh, Blue honey, I had to! You just made it so easy! Don’t worry, Shanks and Beck fall for it too. Every single time. ”

“Could someone please fill me in?” Crocodile said a bit helplessly. 

“Your son is a manipulative little shit and she’s the one who taught him how to do it!” Buggy huffed lightly jabbing Makino in the shoulder to get a tiny bit of revenge for the panic. “Why would you teach that kid how to cry on command?!”

“It’s a good skill to have.” Makino said with a shrug before moving back to her seat after brushing a barely there kiss to first Buggy’s then Crocodile’s cheeks. “He’s a horrible liar if he has to do it outright though he does beautifully talking around things and masking in general.”

“Oh I know he's a terrible liar… Do you know he made Beckman kick Rayleigh off the Red Force? He just sniffled and whined to make the mean-sad go away and his Da folded like a wet blanket. I watched that kid con Richie from his dinner and then proceeded to do it to every person on my ship and Red’s, myself included, even after we watched him do it.” Blue let out hysterically, leaning back into Crocodile’s leg. “Do you know what Monster you have created? That little shit could probably go up to Big Mom and con that woman out of her entire island of food.” 

“He does his Mama and Gran proud then.” Makino giggled. “Mãe didn’t buy our bar, she got the old owner to sign it over with a bit of cleavage flashing and flirting.”

Buggy opened and closed his mouth several times and just stared blankly at the wall in deep thought. He was right, this woman stole his crew, he just knew it but oh he can’t be mad about it, hell, he was trying not to think about it. 

“You’re freaking out like Ms. Rouge didn’t teach you and Shanks how to con people?” Crocodile asked as he poked Buggy in the side gently with his hook, raising his brow as Blue turned that gaze up to him. 

A soft giggle left Makino at that. “Mae was good friends with Tia Rouge, she taught them all her tricks too and vice versa and then taught me.” 

“Green, who… who is your mom?” Buggy asked slowly, cause though everyone knew Garp had a sister, no one knew her name beyond a select few who were actually friends with her. 

“Monkey D Teressa, granted women were never given the last name or initial in the Monkey line.” Makino said with a shrug. “She did some bounty hunting before I was born. They called her The Reaper.”

“I need some air, just… excuse me.” Buggy stated as he got to his feet and shuffled outside, the door closing softly with a click before he let out a hysterical scream because what the hell… how is this his life!? 

Makino’s mom was practically his mama’s older sister and… Did this make them related? Because the family line in general was fucked but by the seas this puts so much context into certain things his mama did and why Green sometimes reminded him of his mama too it was because she knew all her tricks.

“Oh dear, I think I broke him…” Makino said worriedly. “Should I tone it down? It’s just been so long since I could act like myself instead of the act I put on for the village…”

Crocodile chuckled and held up a cigar, waiting for her nod of approval before lighting it, leaning back as he cast a look out the window to Buggy who was pacing and muttering to himself as he tugged at his hair, face flustered. “Buggy has a competency kink a mile wide, flusters him beyond reason but he and I grew up around Te. I think it’s finally hitting him that he’s officially a D even if he doesn’t have the initial.” 

While he was distracted Makino carefully eased herself up to get an ashtray from the dishes cupboard and shuffled slowly back to the table to place it in front of him. She really hadn’t meant to fluster Buggy so much but Garp had kept eyes in Foosha, namely the mayor, that made Makino have to keep her sweet and innocent persona played up to 11 just so he wouldn’t take Luffy from her.  It was exhausting to hide so much when she could be just as feral as the boy she called her son. 

It was an hour later that Buggy had rejoined them, though the scene he walked in on wanted him to walk right back out again because Makino and Coyote were bent over the table, a bottle of spirits being shared between them and they were plotting the utter destruction of Dragon. 

Was he jealous of this? Abso-fucking-lutely not because something in his chest fluttered at the sight of Coyote laughing and smiling freely and deadly. He had lost his coat in the time he was gone, sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful forearms. Makino’s hair was unbound and lose, her smile just as sharp as Luffy’s and the gleam so much like his Mama’s and aunt’s. Seas, if he was any other man he would pity them for what’s to come, but he wasn’t any other man and he couldn’t wait to see what chaos they caused to that utter bastard. 

Over trying to actually interrupt them Buggy just cleared the empty bottles away mildly impressed because this was good whiskey they were sipping through and two bottles were already empty yet they looked just as sober as when he left. Still he ran a hand gently along Crocodile’s shoulders and lightly squeezed Makino’s as he went to put the bottles over by the sink so he could rinse them out. 

“Blue honey, I put a bowl of stew in the fridge for you since you left without eating.” Makino called. “Would you like me to heat it up for you?”

“I’ll get it, ‘Kino, was my own fault for missing dinner.” Buggy responded with ease. “You two just keep plotting.”

A deep rumble left Crocodile as he leant back in his chair, eyes watching his Blue in the kitchen with rapt attention. “She's devious, I like her.”

Makino hummed as she watched the two men in her home and looking to the sky in exasperation, men were idiots, she could tell that they cared for one another perhaps even loved one another… though right now it was mostly lust and well she couldn’t really blame them. Buggy was his own brand of attractive, long blue hair with eyes that glinted sharp like a well thrown blade and Crocodile was elegant and refined but there was a cunningness about him, a feralness in both of them that excited her. 

If given the chance she would mount those men in a heartbeat. If she had her way she would very much get that chance. Though she would wait until they had maybe become more aware of the drawn out mating dance they were engaging in. If she didn’t just run out of patience at them dancing around each other. For now she would just enjoy the show. 

Once Buggy was done eating and cleaned up he turned and sat before Makino once more. His hands taking her own as he stared at her. “Luffy is safe, Green, I made sure of it. He's got brothers now, adopting the kids Rayleigh had as his own. He'll be safe in the heart of Shanks' territory with the Left and Right hand helping protect. But he misses you, Green.” 

“I miss him too, so very much, but I had to hide. He'd come back, he'd sneak away and you know by now how good he is at it. He'd get hurt and he's been hurt too much already!” Makino exclaimed softly. “I don’t want to live without my son, Blue. I truly don’t. It is exhausting keeping my voice suppressed. It's why I’m still in this seas damned chair. But I’ll keep my voice locked tight and live in this chair the rest of my days if that’s what it takes for him to stay where he is safe.”

Buggy shared a look with Crocodile over her shoulder before staring at her once more. “I came back to gather the rest of my crew, to move my network and to find a piece of home for a kid who lost everything before returning to the Line. Coyote desires to meet him, he's only here because I didn't want him to travel alone and deal with his sperm donor… come with us, Green.”

“Blue, I’d love to but I’d only be a burden stuck in this chair.” Makino said with a sad smile. “I’d love to see the Sea from further than the shore to answer the crying in my blood that I ignored to raise Luffy but it’s a bit late for that now dear.”

“No, it is not. ” Buggy explained as he laid his own Haki over Makino, keeping her hidden. “I can hide you.”

There was a gasp as the sudden weight that seemed to hold her down let up on Makino, she looked up into Blue’s eyes desperately.

 “Won’t this only exhaust you?” Makino whispered as she sagged in her chair, nearly crying from the relief. 

She’d never had to strain her haki so much. Before the buster call she’d only ever used it to help calm Luffy when he Raged. She was tired. 

“Not at all,” Buggy lied, it would exhaust him but it would be worth it and he'd do all he could to make sure she never learns the truth.

“You’re a better liar than Luffy at least.” Makino said with a small huff. “Mãe died before she could finish training me but she did teach me enough to know this will wear on you as much as it has me.”

“I don’t want you hurt just to take me away from here, Blue. I’d be restless without Luffy as a reason anymore, yes, but I would survive.” Makino said as she gently cupped Buggy’s cheek while being careful of his makeup. 

Well then, Buggy is just going to have to be convincing. “Green, believe me, the strain won't be as bad as you think. I've been able to hide myself and others naturally since I was a brat on the streets.” 

He could feel Crocodile’s gaze on the back of his head because that was an outright lie that Makino believed if her relieved look was anything. He knew there was going to be a talk in his future because Coyote just spent the last several days helping Buggy recover from taxing his own haki. 

“The chair though. I couldn’t ask one of you to carry me around until I can walk properly again.” Makino said worriedly she’d been raised to be fiercely independent and had raised Luffy the same way. The thought of burdening Blue even more than she had before made her feel ill. 

“I mean no offense when I say this, Makino, but you are tiny.” Crocodile deadpanned. “It would take minimal effort for anyone among the crew to help you about… or just take after our son and ride the lion.”

“I’m perfectly average!” Makino whined with an adorable huff. Both men could picture her stomping her foot had she been standing. “Not everyone is a giant!”

“My sperm donor is over twenty one feet tall, Makino, and I’d hope by this point I have no more growth spurts left in me.” Crocodile shrugged. “That is to say I’m also short.”

“… oh your poor mother.” Makino said before her filter kicked in, making both Crocodile and Buggy choke. 

“Now, we can talk more about this tomorrow. It's gotten late and we should sleep.” Buggy stated firmly, still exhausted. 

“Oh of course!” Makino exclaimed. “I’m so sorry to have kept you up this long, Blue honey, Crocodile. The rooms are upstairs, please make yourselves comfortable.”

With that Makino wheeled herself into the living room and began getting pillows and blankets from the linen closet there and laying them on the couch to make up her own sleeping arrangements. 

“Green, we're not kicking you out of your bed.” Buggy stated firmly, lifting the woman up out of her chair into a hold at risk of her smacking him. 

But he sure as flashy fuck was not going to let her sleep on the couch when he could easily make his way back to the ship. 

“Don't argue with him, you won't win in this case. I am also of agreement, and I appreciate the offer Makino, but not many village beds not on the line can fit my height.” Crocodile informed as he strode up to one of the doors and opened it for Buggy to enter. 

“You’re not though, Dears?” Makino said even as she held onto Buggy at suddenly being airborne. “I’ve only been upstairs once and that was when I had the twins help me up there once your ship was reported so I could air out the rooms. All my medications are by the couch because that’s where I’ve been sleeping…”

“Excuse me?” Buggy asked, tone dark and very unlike how he normally sounded when speaking with her. “Are you telling me that you have been sleeping on the couch while recovering? Did none of my idiots help you?”

“Of course they help me!” Makino exclaimed, lightly smacking Buggy’s chest. “One lovely girl comes by every few days to help me shower as well as do laundry and the twins come quickly enough should I need heavy lifting done. I try not to bother your crew too much especially now that the worst has healed. They were so busy making sure no one realized you had left East Blue!”

“It’s nothing to be upset over, Blue honey.” Makino soothed. “I’ve been on my own since I was twelve running Mãe’s bar and raising myself then raising Luffy too. I can handle a few injuries on my own even with my severely limited mobility. I'd like to think I’ve kept a decent house here.”

Buggy paused and stared straight ahead. Crocodile immediately surged forward and took the woman from his arms as gently as he could as he saw the fury build up in Blue once again. It was the same look he had when he tore Garp to pieces, when he crippled the Fist’s second in command. It was the look Coyote knew well and knew to get out of his way when he saw it because someone had hurt Red, someone had hurt one of Buggy’s treasures. 

“Go,” He urged and Blue nodded, leaving an ear behind just in case as he stormed out of the house with thudding steps. 

If that didn’t tell Crocodile how furious Buggy was besides the look then nothing else would. Blue walked silently, never being able to break his habit of sneaking, feet barely touching the ground in most cases like a true acrobat or thief. So when he did make a sound, those who knew him knew he was furious. 

“Blue!” Makino called after him. 

“Let him go, Makino, he needs to calm down. Blue’s still furious after our run-in with the Fist and hearing the fact you raised Luffy from when you were twelve he’s put two and two together.” Crocodile stated as he used his sand to pull back the blankets, placing her gently in the bed. “Blue is extremely protective of those he treasures and you’ve become one of them. You didn’t need to sleep on the couch, a bed could have been brought down to you. Don’t argue about inconveniencing anyone.” 

“There’s no room down there for a bed, Crocodile. The town was already kind enough to give me a house when I had none and not even a way to pay any kind of rent. I had the twins raid Buggy’s tent for his old clothes and adjusted them to fit a bit better. I couldn’t burden them more than that! I already owe them so much for bringing groceries by each week but I try to do that on my own now that I can get around better without help.” Makino said her eyes teary as she worriedly stared after Buggy. “I don’t understand. I’ve always taken care of myself this way? Have I done something wrong? Did I ask for too much help? I promise I did my best not to get in anyone’s way. I… I don’t understand… ”

Crocodile crouched down before her, giving her a stern look. “Makino, you’ve shown me in the last few hours that you’re smart and by the seas, I’m just as angry as Blue is at both Garp and Dragon for the strain and stress they’ve put on you and Luffy both. I’ve never even been to this island but you should have noticed just as fast as I have… This town is Blue’s. You may have only known him for the brief time it took to give him Luffy but his Crew knew how important you were, that you were his family because as far as I know… no one is allowed to call him Blue and you did without any form of repercussions.” 

“But…” Makino choked out. 

“No, ‘Kino. The house’s layout could have been arranged to fit a bed down stairs, his crew listen to you without question. Do you think they’d do that? Makino, they’re pirates, not only that, they’re a crew run by one of the sons of the Pirate King.” Crocodile said softly, he was not one to sugar coat his words and he feels that she is a woman who preferred bluntness over kindness. “You know, Miss Rouge, she would have risen from the grave and given Buggy such a tongue lashing for the way you are currently living, if he knew or not.” 

Raising to his feet once more, he pulled the blanket over her. “So, let him calm down, he’s not mad at you, he’s mad at the circumstances and the fact his crew should have done better. He has certain expectations of them, ones they know about and the people of the village know that too.” 

“I just don’t want to be a burden. Please tell him not to be upset with them. I didn’t ask. They offered more than necessary.” Makino sniffled. 

“They didn’t offer enough ,” Crocodile said emphatically. “Whether you asked or not, someone should have been here to help you at all times.”

At that, Makino glared, fire coming to her still teary eyes. “I am not an invalid! I understand that I’m hurt, but I’m not helpless! I took care of myself as I always have.”

“You did and the strength you have to do so while suppressing yourself is astounding,” Crocodile said. He could see why Blue was drawn to her; she was like a second coming of Rouge in green by spirit alone. “However, just because you didn’t need the help does not mean it shouldn’t have been given anyway to make your recovery easier.”

Makino huffed but didn’t say anything more on the issue itself, despite how Crocodile could clearly see she wanted to keep arguing her ability to look after herself even wheelchair bound. She was a tiny ball of fire and independent to no end; he could already tell she was going to give them fits trying to protect her on the Line. He wasn’t sure what that said about him but he looked forward to the challenge. 

“I’m not going to sleep until Blue tells me goodnight himself.” Makino said as she crossed her arms with a pout Crocodile wanted to kiss away… where the fuck had that thought come from ?!

“You may be waiting a while.” He stated while averting his gaze, feeling hot all of a sudden. “I'll go inform him.”

Chapter Text

He managed to find Buggy easily in the ‘destroyed’ part of the village with his entire crew lined up before him. He sat splayed out on his throne glaring at them, words in Lineian dripping from his lips like acid and Crocodile could see that only two of his crew, the twins, faces that seemed familiar to Crocodile, were the ones to understand. 

“Buggy.” Crocodile said in acknowledgement as strolled up to him before continuing in Lineian. “I understand you’re angry but it’d be more effective if more than two understood the language.”

“Why are you interrupting?” Buggy snapped his eyes cold and language still not switching to Standard. 

“Green refuses to go to sleep until you’ve come to say goodnight yourself.” Crocodile says with a roll of his eyes knowing Buggy already was aware of Makino’s demand from his left behind ear. “As I’m sure you heard. She also wants you to not be too harsh on them for not helping because she didn’t ask.”

“Very well.” Buggy drawled as he got up, eyeing his crew. “You know your orders, get to them!” 

Every single body fled immediately ready to flee their angry captain. It wasn't often that he was angry at them beyond a show and it always upset them that they had pushed him too far to be that angry. 

“You alright, Blue?” Crocodile questioned softly as he stepped closer. 

“No I am not. I've spent the last year running from Marines to keep my nephew safe, the same nephew who was mourning the loss of his mama! The same nephew and woman who had suffered so much bullshit because of Garp!” Buggy snarled. “At least on the Oro, Red and I knew that we could ask for help.”

“I know.” Crocodile soothed. “But Blue you’re going red and need to breathe before you pass out. We’ll protect both of them now, okay?”

“It's just not fucking fair, Coyote, why is it the ones that deserve the most are treated like shit?” Buggy groaned brokenly, not looking at his Coyote. “I'm sick of my family hurting and it's them that do it to themselves. I–I just got them back… I just… I can't lose another family Coyote, I can't.”

“And you won't Blue, you won't.” Crocodile stressed as he strode forward and cupped his Blue's face, wrapping his hook arm to hold him close. “We'll make sure of it. I swear.”

“We?” Buggy rasped confused.

Crocodile hated how there were tears in his Blue’s eyes, thumb brushing away the tear that spilt over. “It’s a long way to Elbaf, Blue. You’re stuck with me.”

Something in Blues eyes closed off at that. “Then you will leave too. I cannot stay in the New World and that is where Luffy will be. You have other priorities than me and frankly it's the way it should be.”

“Why are you so sure that I’m going to leave you, Blue?” Crocodile asked gently. “Where did my confident little savior go? I owe you my life, Blue, if you don’t want me to leave then you only have to ask me to stay. You’ve always only had to ask. You said I was the treasure you stole from Whitebeard himself once upon a time.”

“Because everyone always leaves!” Buggy whispered so utterly heartbroken. “I'm Buggy the unwanted, the unloved.”

Crocodile dragged the younger man into a tight hug. It hurt how much his friend had suffered all these years and Crocodile felt guilt settle around his shoulders because when it first happened the only person he’d wanted to search out was Blue. Yet he hadn’t. He’d wanted desperately for the comfort of the young man that had saved him once before  yet he’d not bothered to hunt for him out of a fear of being seen as weak. 

Buggy was forcing himself to abandon the town he’d made his own, the throne he’d secretly claimed here in East Blue because of Crocodile’s son. His love for Luffy was so powerful he was going back to the Line just so Luffy could have family even closer and it hurt to know his past mistakes caused his savior so much pain. 

“I’ll stay.” Crocodile promised softly. “We can share my base in Alabasta or even make a new one somewhere closer to Sabaody. Hell we can be land bound on Elbaf if that’s what you want from me. I want you, Blue, and I’ve loved you since you dragged my broken body out of that cell.”

“You were the first person I wanted to go to when Dragon told me my baby was dead. You were the first person I wanted to meet again as my true self…” Crocodile whispered, clutching Buggy that much closer. “I was going to do it but I ran into Red first when he returned to the Line and he told me how you said you wanted nothing to do with him, nothing to do with the Line. So I stayed away… because if you didn’t want Red how could you ever want the broken shell of a man I was then…”

“I would have held Red back, the Line ran through his veins and I couldn't keep him here… I… I don't want to hold anyone back. I'm not worth this, Crocodile.” Buggy explained as he closed his eyes and Crocodile hated the way the name rolled off his tongue, he was never Crocodile, not to his Blue, always Coyote. 

“You're not listening to me, Blue,” Crocodile stressed, holding his face firmer. “I want you, I have from the moment you dragged my sorry ass out of that cell. Seas Blue, do you even know how beautiful you are? The way you turn feral for your family? The way you love. I want that, I want you.” 

Buggy stared back at him with wide eyes and Crocodile just threw all caution to the wind and lifted his Blue, pinning him to the post behind him and kissed him. Crocodile was a pirate right down to his marrow, he took what he wanted and right now he wanted. The gasp Buggy let out as he returned the kiss made his blood sing because it was Blue, his Blue, making such sweet sounds for him as Crocodile kissed him for all he was worth.  He didn’t pull away until his lungs burned for air and as he watched Buggy through half lidded eyes Crocodile couldn’t help but admire how perfect Buggy looked all flushed red with kiss swollen lips and legs locked securely around his hips. 

“Do you understand?” Crocodile asked, holding the younger man’s chin to force him to meet his gaze when he tried to look away. 

“I— hm… I under— understand…” Buggy stammered as his face somehow flushed even brighter. 

“Are you sure?” Crocodile hummed letting his body weight press Buggy more firmly to the post. 

“Yes, sir!” Buggy yelped before clapping a hand over his mouth with an embarrassed squeak. 

“Hmm, cute.” Crocodile chuckled. “Good boy.” 

The needy whine that left Buggy at that had Crocodile very tempted to just take him here in the middle of the abandoned street but instead he gently lowered him back to the ground. He didn’t want his first time with his Blue to be when there were tear tracks on the man’s face from anything but overwhelming pleasure. Makino was also waiting for them to return to her home and Crocodile didn’t doubt for a second that she’d wait up all night refusing to sleep until both men had bid her a proper good night before going to sleep, the stubborn woman. 

“Now, come. Makino needs proper rest which she can finally get now that you’re suppressing her instead of doing it herself. However she refuses to sleep until she knows you’re not upset with her and have told her good night.” Crocodile hummed gently nudging Buggy back in the direction of the least destroyed part of town. Makino’s new home was just outside the derelict Old Town and Crocodile wondered if that was her choice or the town trying to keep her close to the main base of Buggy’s men that could assist her however she needed. 

“Blue, I'm so sorry.” Makino blurted out the moment they stepped back into the bedroom. “I didn't mean to upset you.” 

“It's okay, Green, I'm not mad at you.” Buggy hummed as he tucked the quilt around her. “Get some rest, okay, my doctor Sorena will be staying with you from now on. She needs a break from the boys, she said. Before you argue, she wants to tell you about Luffy's injuries and healing. She's the best one to do so considering she spoke with Hongo before we left.” 

“Will you two be staying as well?” Makino asked after a moment. 

“I have a whole desk of reports I need to go over, I'll be at the Main Arena.” Buggy explained.

“Oh… alright. Do get some rest tonight, please, Blue.” Makino said with a slightly forced smile. 

“I will, don't worry about me. I'll be back in the morning, okay? Rest, Green.” Buggy kissed her forehead briefly before exiting, leaving behind one of his arms from his elbow down and an ear just in case. 

“Coyote…” Buggy whispered, his fingers brushing against Coyote’s softly. 

“Hm?” Crocodile hummed allowing Buggy’s fingers to tangle with his as easy as breathing. 

“I really do need to deal with these reports, but you need sleep, mon cœur.” Buggy continued just as soft as they made their way towards the Big Top. 

Crocodile tugged him to a stop, pulling Buggy into his arms. “You need sleep too, hayati, if you are going to constantly suppress Makino then you need all the sleep.”

“I'll be fine, Coyote, I can go months with using it constantly before it drains me.” Buggy stated, eyes flickering away because he didn't want Crocodile to know exactly how he knew that. “I promise I won't be too long.” 

Cupping his cheek, Crocodile bent down and kissed Blue softly. “We'll talk more about that later, hayati, goodnight.” 

“Night.” Buggy hummed before making his way into his office. 

As he worked he listened to Makino toss a good bit in her sleep. The thought that she may be having nightmares of the horrors she lived through made his chest ache with the urge to go comfort her but the more he could finish at night the more time he could spend during the day with her and Coyote. Moving his ear into the hall he could hear Sorena sleeping in the guest room as well. Coyote, he knew, had gone to the ship for his rest because he wasn’t wrong that beds outside of the line just weren’t made for someone of his stature. 

“Ah!” A soft pained gasp took his attention away from his intense focus on the year’s worth of information he’d been steadily parsing his way through. 

The noise was soon followed with the sound of shuffling and feet landing lightly on the floor. Makino wasn’t going to try to get somewhere on her own was she?! They’d left her wheelchair downstairs in hopes of making her have to ask for assistance. Neither he nor Coyote wanted to impede her fierce independence but it didn’t change the fact that she was hurt or that her mobility wasn’t still severely limited from both her injuries as well as the weight of her exhaustion after spending a year hiding her Voice from Luffy. 

“It’s okay, Maki… it’s not far you can do it.” Buggy listened as he followed the slow creaks of the floorboards. His arm moved from where he had left it on the dresser to hover where he hoped was behind her out of sight. 

“It’s just a trip downstairs to the bathroom is all.” Makino murmured Buggy listening to the soft slide of her hand against the plaster as she held the wall for support. “My medicine is by the couch, it'll help the pain and I can rest there a bit. As long as I make it back upstairs before morning Blue and Crocodile will be none the wiser. I’ve got all night before they come back. I just need to hold tight to the rail is all.” 

She was trying to go down the stairs?!?! Quickly Buggy shoved himself to his feet and took off for Makino’s home at a sprint. She’d only just reached the bedroom door and the hallway was a decent length. It would take her time to reach the head of the stairs. If he didn’t stop running he should make it! Stubborn woman! All she needed to do was call for Sorena! His doctor was a very light sleeper; it was only Makino purposefully being as quiet as possible as she shuffled along that the woman hadn’t already been woken up by the movement. It was as he skidded around the corner to her street that heard the change in Makino’s pained breathing as her hand shifted from the wall to the railing. 

“See it’s fine!” Makino whispered to herself not knowing Buggy could hear too. Fuck, Buggy was so glad he’d left an ear behind. “It hurts but I can make it! Just hold on tight and take it one step at a time!”

“AHH!” Makino’s scared scream roared in both his ears as he burst in the door just as her legs gave out on her and she tipped forward in spite of her grip on the rail. 

Time moved in slow motion as all at once he heard Sorena bolting out of bed and his free floating hand just barely missed grabbing the back of Makino’s shirt to stop her free fall through the air. 

“Makino!” He cried out in time with her screaming. 

Heart pounding Buggy lurched forward reaching the bottom of the staircase in two bounding steps just in time for Makino to crash into him instead of the ground with a pained cry. He felt his eyes widen as the force caused him to lose footing, his arms wrapping tight around her and keeping her protected in them as he took full force of their combined weight slamming into the stairs and down as they fell. 

He felt the impact everywhere, a cry ripping from his lips as he kept his armament on the most critical parts of him and across Makino but it still hurt. He struggled to suck in a breath as they came to a stop at the bottom, blackness dancing in his vision as he shakily pat across Green's form for any sign of damage. 

“T—Take her…” he gasped out as Sorena leapt down the stairs. 

He still couldn't breathe, his ears beginning to ring as he twisted to push himself up only to fall back down with a thump, hand coming to wrap at his side. Seems he sacrificed protection to his ribs for his spine… Which was fine, he could deal with broken ribs… There were thundering footsteps and hands on him, someone was crying but Buggy couldn't focus over the ringing, the last thing he saw before unconsciousness took him was the slow drip of red on the hardwood floor. Huh, who is bleeding? 

Crocodile had rushed over as soon as he felt the sudden panicked spike in Blue’s haki but he didn’t expect to come back to a house in chaos and his Blue bleeding on the floor. Makino was on the couch, eyes wide and tears steadily carving tracks down her face as she stared at Sorena working on Buggy’s crumpled form. 

“What happened!?” He demanded as he slammed to his knees, hand hesitantly coming up to brush back the blue strands across his face.

“I–I'm sorry… It's my fault!” Makino cried softly. 

Sorena ignored her as she stared at Crocodile, “They fell down the stairs, he lost his footing trying to catch Makino. His armament protected her and his spine but he didn't cover the rest of his back or head.” 

“He definitely has a concussion, and possibly a couple of broken ribs. He's going to hurt when he wakes, he could have cracked his skull.” Sorena informed. 

“For now the blood is because the impact made his nose bleed pretty heavily for a bit but it’s stopped now.” The doctor continued. “All in all it isn’t good but it could have been much much worse. If we’re lucky the ribs aren’t full breaks but I’ll take cracked ribs and some bumps and bruises over two broken necks any day.”

“Can he be moved?” Crocodile asked.

“He can, I sent the boys to get a stretcher though so he can be brought back to the Big Top or the Main Arena.” Sorena explained as she got to her feet and went back to examining Makino, her captain ordered her to be looked at before he passed out but he was currently the more injured of the two so after getting her to the couch she focused on her captain despite his orders. 

“Ms. Makino…” Sorena called gently, snapping her fingers in front of her face to get her attention over the wide eyed stare she’d kept trained on Buggy. “Don’t worry, Captain is going to be just fine. Now I need you to tell me if anything hurts more than usual specifically around your back. I read the file the town doctor made from when the sea king carried you to shore. You had spinal damage then so I need to check it now.”

“M-my legs went n-numb, it's why I… why I fell.” Makino whispered. “It’s n-normal when I push myself too far.”

“Okay. We’re going to take you to the Big Top with Captain so I can take some X-rays just to be on the safe side. Any pain out of the normal? Your head and such.” Sorena continued calmly. 

“My upper back… I think it’s bruised from how tight Blue grabbed me… but no I didn’t hit my head. Blue took all the hits.” Makino whispered. “Sorena, please, is Blue really alright?”

“He will be, Ms. Makino.” Sorena reassured. “Captain don’t get hurt often but this is far from the worst I’ve seen. Some rest and medicine and he’ll be right as rain in a few weeks time.”

Crocodile let his fruit free and brought the sand forth, letting it gently shift and carry Blue. He couldn't speak, teeth clenched and worry gnawing as he rushed back towards the Big Top before the twins could arrive with the stretcher. They can carry back Makino, fuck, this was going to be a mess because he knows Blue won't care, but calming down Makino is going to be the issue. She'll blame herself and seas, he hoped that she took this as a lesson that she should ask for help. 

Seas, he doesn't envy Red if his son inherited this stubborn streak on top of his own. 

The crew scurried around him, getting out of his way fast the moment they saw their unconscious captain trailing behind him. He followed the pointing path towards the medical bay on the Big Top and gently placed his Blue down, running his hand through his hair in a silent apology to gather all his Devil fruit left behind. His Blue hated the feeling of sand well anywhere but especially his hair. 

It was only five minutes before the twins walked in with a heavily pouting Makino on the stretcher that had been meant for Buggy. Crocodile just knew she fought against being brought here in such a way just to get hit with a Healer’s Order. Her presence on the stretcher at very least showed she knew well some of the most important things of a pirate crew. Never piss off your cook and definitely never piss off your Doctor. 

“I really wish you would have waited, Crocodile.” Sorena huffed with a half hearted glare. “Some help wrangling Ms. Makino would have been nice.”

“Oh?” Crocodile asked with a cocked brow. “And why is she pouting? The fact perhaps over orders to take the stretcher over a chair as even in a chair that something could be broken and the shifting around would only be making the injury worse?”

He pinned her with a look, she was a smart woman but they had just told her to ask for help. Now Blue was hurt because of her stubborn tendencies and Crocodile was never one to be nice. “Perhaps her stubbornness makes her uncaring and perhaps Blue was wrong? That she wouldn't care that when Blue wakes up and finds out that he couldn't protect her he's going to be wrecked? Is this what you taught my son? That he shouldn't accept help when it's there? That he is an inconvenience on people?” 

“I…” Makino trailed off blinking as she stared at the bland face of Crocodile. 

“You are not inconveniencing anyone by needing help, you are recovering. Do you think Blue would be an inconvenience if his ribs are broken and he needs help for a few weeks?” Crocodile questioned. 

“No.” Makino damn near hissed. “I am sorry that Blue was hurt because of what I admit was my own seas damned stupidity. However, I also need you to understand that I have always been alone, Crocodile. Having people that give a fuck whether I’m exhausted or in pain is something I never had outside of Luffy since I was twelve years old.” 

“I don’t ask for help because it was never there so naturally when someone offers it wanting nothing in return, I don’t trust it. It fucking terrifies me.” Makino continued. “Luffy had a bad fever once and the bar was struggling when I took him to the village doctor who said I could bring him anytime free of charge. There was a fucking charge in the fact of that sick old bastard tried to hurt me while our son laid unconscious with a fever well over a hundred degrees. I was thirteen. So no, Crocodile, I did not ask for help because I had to take a piss in the middle of the night after a nightmare where I didn’t save our son. Yes, Luffy also struggles to trust people and to ask for help because his entire life I was the only one that would give it. No I didn’t teach it to him, he learned it on his own just like I did.” 

“I know Blue would never hurt me because Luffy is his Red’s and I… I am Luffy’s. Just as much as he is mine.” Makino said anger fading into tears that Crocodile knew this time were the real thing. “I am trying, Crocodile. But the one person that has protected me in the last seven years is the little boy that’s on the other side of the world and I’m fucking scared, okay?”

Crocodile sat up, the hand carding through Buggy’s hair coming to a complete stop as he fisted it. “We understand, fuck, above all and especially me, I understand. But you need to take in consideration that we don’t know what to do, Blue and Red were raised loved. My sperm donor doesn’t even deserve that epithet but we still had people we could rely on and ask for help. I only ever had Red and Blue.” 

“You need to make effort just like we need to be patient and understanding.” Crocodile stated firmly, gaze shifting down to Buggy. “This would probably happen again, Blue tends to throw himself between those he cares for and danger. Seas knows he’s received many scars protecting me, it will eat at you, but don’t let it.” 

Makino nodded her voice small as Sorena rolled her carefully onto her stomach. “I really didn’t mean for Blue to get hurt…”

“She was indeed correct that she only has bruises,” Sorena interrupted. “I'll make some bruising salve, now, time for the captain.” 

Both Crocodile and Makino stayed silent as Sorena looked over Buggy. Worry was gnawing at Makino for how quiet he was, even if Crocodile and Sorena went on if it was normal. Bruises had already started to form on Buggy's back and a soft whimper left her once she got a good view. 

“Captain has indeed broken a rib and fractured two others, he's going to have a nasty concussion that is due to the hairline fracture on his skull.” Sorena informed, expression pinched. “He'll have to keep away from the lab for a while, as well as take it easy. I know you’re a rival captain and a civilian but Captain wants to be away from here quickly with the Network stable. If one of you help by reading the reports to him we should manage to stay on his original timeline of no more than a month back here in the East.” 

“Thank you, Sorena, I'll let him know and gather you when he wakes.” Crocodile sighed in relief. “Go get some rest.” 

A sigh left Crocodile as he leant back, bare feet sliding across the floor as he let his sand drop from his hand, his main hand coming to rub at the old scar tissue. It felt weird not having his hook on, but the connector was starting to ache and bite into the skin. He felt vulnerable without it, exposed before Makino. 

“I'm sorry, Crocodile…” Makino stated after a moment of silence and he sighed, wishing for a cigar but he didn't want to get up to get one, he also knew that it was a very bad idea. He'll just suffer the Hunger or ask if there was a place to hunt. 

“It is not I who you should apologise to, Green.” Crocodile sighed as he leant back in the chair stretching, feeling the cracks and pops of his spine. “But he won't want you to apologise either.”

It amazed him a bit how much more relaxed Makino seemed with both of them in the room with her. When he’d put her to bed earlier she’d been tense and on the edge of panic even after Buggy came to inform her that his doctor would be staying in the room across the hall. Granted knowing what he did now he could understand the panic. He wasn’t comfortable with strangers in his space either. The invitation that had been given had been for himself and Blue, the only people in the town she could remotely trust wouldn’t harm her implicitly even if in her mind if it was only because of her connection to Luffy and Red, never mind the crush they were both forming on her. 

Looking back that had been her trying just as they’d been asking though in her own way. She’d been asking to not be alone, to know she was safe again because it may be Blue’s town and crew but with Buggy present there really was next to no chance of her being harmed. She was wanted, hunted and had been living the last year interacting with as few people as possible. Crocodile couldn’t even blame her because one could never tell who would turn traitor for a sackful of Berri. She’d asked them to stay so she could feel safe and they’d brought in a stranger, a trusted one but for Makino a stranger nonetheless. 

The fault for Buggy being hurt wasn’t only on her stubborn refusal to accept help. They had their own responsibility for it because they’d missed the pleas she hid behind the hospitality she met them with. He had wanted to be angry and upset when he realized Buggy was hurt only to have been stopped short by how distraught and down right terrified Makino had looked when he’d rushed inside. It made him wonder how often she’d felt like that this last year. How resigned had they made her feel to being on her own when neither of them stayed behind as she’d offered, asked?

“You should sleep.” Makino said softly a grimace of pain on her face as she leaned forward in bed to massage her legs. Were they still numb? How much pain was she actually in?

“I've had enough, you rest now, Green, I'll keep watch.” He hummed as he got comfortable once more, watching as her entire frame relaxed. 

He would have to make note to remember to talk with Serena about what could be done for Makino's pain level. If what Blue had told him of his son was true he likely learned how to mask from watching Makino and Blue had already revealed Luffy’s pain tolerance was inhuman even without the devil fruit. 

“… please don’t leave…” the pained plea had Crocodile snapping his eyes open to stare back at Makino. “Please.”

Makino who was looking at him with fear clear in her eyes before they darted around their medical surroundings. Makino, who had been assaulted when she was only thirteen by a doctor because she took their son for treatment. Sorena being a woman wouldn’t take away all the inherent fear associated with her profession. Not when the secondary staff were men. Not when everyone on the crew but Buggy were complete strangers even if the familiar twins did seem very protective of her. It made how tense she’d been during the exams make more sense. One of them was an older man that had stayed by Makino’s side meticulously documenting everything Sorena reported. 

“You won’t be alone in the room once, Makino.” Crocodile promised softly. “If I have to step out I’ll call for the twins. You seem comfortable with them.”

“They're good people.” She whispered causing Crocodile to smile.

“They are, they were once called my brothers before I freed them.” Crocodile explained as he got up, bringing over a spare blanket. “Rest, I won't let anyone hurt you here.”

“I… I know… it’s why I wanted you both to stay before.” Makino said as she looked away. 

“I realize that now. My apologies for leaving you with a stranger. We should have noticed but sometimes in trying to protect someone we can be a bit dense.” Crocodile said as he carefully tucked the blanket back around her just as Buggy had done when they first put her to bed hours before. “Rest now, Green.” 

Chapter Text

When Buggy woke next it was several days later, it had everyone worried as he should have woken before that. Makino was stressed, Sorena was running x-rays and scans practically every hour. The only one who wasn't fully worried was Crocodile. His Blue had been exhausted before this, running on little sleep and over exertion so he wasn't surprised his body decided now was a good time to rest. 

“How are you not worried?” Makino asked from the kitchen. They had decided to move Buggy back to the house, shifting the downstairs around to be another bedroom. 

Crocodile looked up from the reports before him, his own and Blue’s. It would seem that Bentham was having the time of his life going to meetings and causing chaos. Not only that, with Blue’s reports and Momora’s connections he was able to gather intelligence on Dragon. That fucking bastard never left Baltigo and that was going to be his mistake because Crocodile memorised that place to the foundations. 

“As I've said, I grew up around Blue and Red. This is nothing compared to how they were after a band of Rookies tried to go for Red.” He gave her a pointed look for the meaning. “Blue snuck off and took care of them but he ended up getting stabbed, shot and a broken collarbone. He was unconscious for a week. When my sperm donor and Roger met up, I was able to sneak off to see them both.” 

“Why would you have to sneak away if the crews were friendly?” Makino questioned. A frustrated huff followed soon after. “Crocodile dear, could you come get this flour for me? The twins put half my staples two shelves too high!”

“Because my sperm donor has the ideal that women should be kept safe in the infirmary unless needed. Especially if it is of his own blood, so when Roger stopped to battle then that is where I was forced to stay.” Crocodile explained haltingly as he gathered everything Makino asked for. 

“Oh, so he's like my brother then.” Makino stated blandly with a roll of her eyes. “Let's hope I never meet him dear, I may perhaps shoot him.” 

“Who… who are you shooting?” Buggy rasped, coughing slightly as he wrapped his arm around his torso with a pained grunt. 

Makino and Crocodile spun around to see Blue trying to sit up, within two paces Crocodile was at his side helping him. “Careful hayati, you've been asleep for a while and have a broken rib.”

“Cool, explains why I feel like that time Marco Phoenix-kicked me through a tree.” Blue huffed. “What have I missed?” 

“Not much your second and third have been training the crew with help from the twins. Makino won’t stop stress cooking and has stocked half of the big fridge on the Big Top with meals for the entire crew. Your cooks fear for their jobs.”

“I haven’t been that bad!” Makino exclaimed. 

Crocodile shot her a look. “Makino, you have cooked enough for me to feel full. It's been two days since I've had to have a cigar.”

“I’m used to cooking for Luffy.” Makino said with a shrug and a blush. “You need to smoke less anyway! It isn’t good for you.”

“She’s trying to make me fat, Blue.” Crocodile said point an accusing finger in Makino’s direction. 

Buggy snorted and instantly regretted it when he did but pushed on. “Makino, the cigars are appetite suppressors for a D and Coyote, you, fat? I call bullshit. That'll never happen with the metabolism of a D and even if so by your standards, I'd still climb you like a…” 

“A tree. Same and same to you too by the way.” Makino huffed fondly. “But speaking of food you haven’t eaten in a week, I made chicken noodle soup and some fresh bread too if you’d like grilled cheeses.”

Buggy’s head snapped around with wide eyes and a flush. “Green! You can't just say things like that!”

“And why not?” Makino called as she rolled back into the kitchen. 

“ Green! ” Buggy whined, his face flushing red for all that Crocodile wasn’t much better in sporting his own blush. 

“Yes, Blue honey?” Makino hummed as she rolled back in a plate of food balanced in her lap that she carefully placed in his once she reached the bed. 

Buggy had wanted to protest some more but the words died in his throat when he saw what she was wearing. His shirt, worn and washed to the point that the red stripes had become faded out, drowning her small form to the point the arms hung off her shoulders like the only thing keeping the fabric up was her breasts. Letting his eyes trail further he expected to find a pair of pants he’d outgrown only to instead be met with long bare legs only covered by one of his old sashes fashioned into a skirt that stopped just above her knees. 

“Blue?” Makino questioned once more as she used the bed to pull herself out of the chair so that she could lean over to put a hand to his head.

The position gave him a full view down the front of his old shirt and holy shit she wasn’t wearing a bra or wrappings or anything. She had to know what she was doing, had to be aware of the absolute view she was treating him to. She had to. Right?! 

“Blue honey?” Makino asked, stepping even closer to Buggy and touching his face. “Perhaps we need to get Sorena, you look flushed, Blue.”

Crocodile chuckled as he made his way to Buggy’s' other side, pressing flush against him. “Blue flusters easily. You're giving him a view ‘Kino and telling him you'd climb him like a tree, I had to pin and kiss him for him to believe me .”

“Ah. Well the view was accidental but I did mean what I said.” Makino hummed as she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek and stood up straight so she could drop back down in her chair. “If I was capable at the moment I’d have already had one or both of you trying to break me.”

Buggy just merely blinked and stared blankly at the food before him. “I died, I died and or this is a dream because this… this right here never happens to someone like me.”

“Because you’re oblivious to people flirting with you and always have been.” Crocodile deadpanned. “She’s been hitting on both of us since we arrived.”

“I can be patient.” Makino said with a wave of her hand. “Crocodile, do you mind helping me up to bed? I’d like to lay down for a bit since my legs are going numb again.” 

“You can lay with me…” Buggy blurted out, still flustered, blush burning its way all the way down his chest. 

Frankly, Makino thought the view was adorable, just made him more attractive. Oh, she had thought that she would be wrecked by both men, but perhaps she would be wrecked by one of the pirates before her while they wreck the other. 

She couldn’t wait, it had been a while since she was able to have some fun. That she was able to even remotely able to find someone to her tastes and could give her what she wanted. 

“Are you sure?”  Makino asked. 

“ Yes!” Buggy yelped though when Makino raised an eyebrow at him he corrected himself to squeak. “Yes, Ma’am!” 

“ Good boy. ” Makino practically purred. “Eat your food and we can all lay down for a cuddle. I think he’d like to be in the middle don’t you, Crocodile dear?”

Crocodile chuckled as he carefully shifted Blue forward, making sure not to jostle him too much before slipping in behind him, legs bracketing on either side of him as he pulled him back into his chest. He had always wanted to do this, ever since Blue had tugged him into his arms like this so long ago to help him rest and eat, loved the close tenderness of this. Makino smiled as she gave the plates back, urging Blue to eat while Crocodile began to play with his hair. 

“If you keep shaking so much we’ll have to feed you, Blue honey.” Makino teased gently. 

“Sorry, sorry.” Buggy apologised quickly but it had Crocodile frowning and leaning over to look at the shakes in Buggy’s limbs, familiar in the way they shook right after the exertion of using his fruit. 

“Ah,” Crocodile hummed, laying his haki over his Blue like before while reaching for the grilled cheese, holding it up for him to take. “Sorry Blue, we got carried away when you just woke up, let me, I have you, you won't break in my arms.” 

“Lift the tray for me, Dear.” Makino said as she pulled herself out of her chair once more. 

Crocodile, like a smart man, did exactly as he was told while Makino carefully crawled into the bed. The next moment she was sitting daintily in Buggy’s lap and putting the tray back in her own. For his part Buggy choked on his grilled cheese as he stared wide eyed at Makino. 

“Let us take care of you okay, Blue?” Makino hummed as she carefully stirred the soup to help it cool a bit more before lifting a spoonful to his lips. “Open.”

It took everything within Buggy to stay still and do as he was told, the heat from both Makino and Crocodile was seeping into his bones and stirring up sensations he really did not want right this instant. He had to keep wrenching the way his mind wandered each time Makino scooted forward to bring the soup up to his lips and the feel of Crocodile’s hand splayed across his bare chest to hold him up, the way his Haki settled deep within his bones. 

“All done!” Makino chirped cheerfully as he swallowed his last bit of soup. 

Buggy tried, he really, really tried, but when she shifted out of his lap a needy whine escaped from him that had the blush he finally got under control back in full force. This time though instead of more teasing he was met with a sweet smile as Makino leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips before she got out of bed and back into her wheelchair. 

“I’ll be right back.” Makino said with a sweet smile. “Just going to put the dishes in the sink.” 

As promised she was back in just a couple of minutes and crawling carefully back into the bed as Crocodile shifted until Buggy was laying more on top of him than the bed. They looked stunning and Makino wished she had a cameko to take a picture of it, how flushed her Blue was looking and the look Crocodile was giving. It made her a bit bolder than she’d intended on being in the fact that she straddled Crocodile’s leg so she could reach to give Buggy another kiss to his lips before stretching past him in a way that may or may not have wound up with Buggy’s head between her breasts so she could give Crocodile a kiss as well. 

A rough laugh escaped Crocodile when Makino pulled back, both their gazes shifting down to their Blue who whimpered, eyes dilated as his hands hovered unsure where to place them. It was a novelty, seeing this, a heady thing in Crocodile’s mind because his Blue always had a plan, always knew what to do and the fact that he and Makino could change that was thrilling. 

“Our Blue is beautiful like this, isn’t he?” Crocodile asked low, trailing his hand up Buggy’s bare chest, careful still of the broken and fractured ribs. He wanted to relax his Blue, not hurt him, never… unless asked of course. 

“He is.” Makino purred as she lightly trailed her fingers along the inside of Buggy’s thigh. “He’s earned a reward for saving me the other day, wouldn’t you agree, Dear?”

“I think he’s earned it, what do you have in mind, Azizi? What should his reward be?” Crocodile asked in a low rumble, thumb brushing over sensitive skin till it rested at his Blue’s throat, feeling the pulse rabbit under his palm and the soft gasp. 

“Hm, maybe we should let him choose.” Makino hummed letting her fingers drift higher before teasingly trailing them back toward his knee. “What do you think, Blue honey? What would you like for saving me? Anything you want… within reason of our injuries of course.”

A whimper left Buggy’s lips as his legs twitched with each touch, it was too much and not enough. They were driving him crazy, his head clouded by the scent and feel of them both.  “Anything… please… I’ll be good…”

“ You’re always good for us, Honey. Tell us what you want.” Makino hummed. “We want to make you feel good.”

“ Touch me, please…” Buggy begged, head thrown back as Makino leant forward and bit gently at the column of his throat. 

“See that wasn’t so hard was it?” Makino hummed as she finally moved her hand up to cup the erection straining against the sleep pants Buggy wore. 

The gasp that tore from Buggy’s lips turned into a guttural moan as Makino pressed firmer against him, Crocodile’s hand shifting down leaving a trail of fire as he covered Makino’s with his own, his lips pressing soft feather light kisses across his bare shoulders followed by a sharp nip that had him whimpering and squirming between them.

Please don’t be a dream… please be real… 

It was overwhelming each taking a side of his neck that they proceeded to nip bite and suck at until he was positive his neck would be covered with claims from two of the most beautiful people he’d ever met. He’d thought it was perfectly overwhelming already just to stop breathing when Makino deftly undid the ties on his pants and pushed them down just enough for his erection to spring free. 

“Look how excited he is for us, Dear.” Makino hummed as she wrapped her small hand around Buggy’s cock and began to slowly stroke it. “Is this still okay, Honey, or too much?”

“Ma chérie, please…” Buggy gasped arching up into her touch. 

“I think he likes it, Azizi, you’ve reduced him back to his mama’s language.” Crocodile crooned, eyes pinning the smaller woman with a heated gaze as he bit down on Buggy’s shoulder once more.  

“Do you want more, min-ha ?” Makino purred as she dragged her thumb over his leaking tip. “Tell me what you need.”

“I don’t… more.. I need more ma cherie, mon cœur please…” Buggy managed to choke out, one hand coming up to wrap around Crocodile while his other grasped at Makino’s hip, willing himself to not pull her flush against him. It had been so long since someone had touched him like this… 

Makino hummed shifting over until she was kneeling between Buggy’s legs. She’d be hurting later but it was worth it for this view. 

“No,” Buggy growled low, stilling her completely. “If it will pain you… no.” 

“I’m going to lay down honey, I was just going to take my shirt off first.” Makino soothed. “Nothing will hurt anymore than usual. I just didn’t think it was fair to you that we’re fully dressed while you’re spread out so pretty for us.”

“… I’m not saying no but this is really fucking hot as is.” Buggy muttered as if accidentally saying his thoughts out loud just to squawk and slap a hand over his mouth once he realized. 

“If that’s what you want honey. This is your reward, remember?” Makino hummed as she shifted where she was laying between Buggy’s legs instead. “Be a good boy and keep your eyes on me, understood?”

This wasn’t her preferred position for this but it was still very much doable. And do she did as she locked eyes with Buggy and licked a slow line up his cock before lightly sucking the tip into her mouth. She couldn’t wait until she got a taste of Crocodile too. She’d had thoughts about it ever since she realized she’d hardly need to bend over to please him this way if he was standing. For now though she was going to thoroughly enjoy her first taste of her Blue. 

Buggy let out a slew of curses as he gasped, Crocodile using his legs to hold him down so as not to buck up and hurt Makino, smirking into the crook of his Blue’s neck. “I’m a little jealous, Blue, that she’s the first of us to make you whimper and moan, but oh, you look ravishing. Is it good, Blue? Is this a good reward?” 

“ Yes! Oh fuck… ” Buggy choked out, hands twitching as he ached to bury them in Makino’s hair. 

It was about that time Makino gave a pleased hum and a saucy wink before diving down to swallow him whole. Buggy spasmed, hands digging into Crocodile’s thighs and ripping a soft moan from the larger man behind him. Between Makino’s devious mouth and the clear arousal he could feel pressed against his back, Buggy was in heaven. He finished embarrassingly quick but in his defense it had been years since he’d had any company in bed that wasn’t his own hands. Makino didn’t even flinch as she swallowed his load and slowly pulled off. 

“You taste delicious, Blue honey, but maybe a little warning next time.” Makino teased like she hadn’t left the clown a husk of a man under her. 

“S–Sorry, been a while… it hit me like a sea train.” Buggy rasped as he fell back into Crocodile’s arms. 

“It’s okay, honey, we’ll have you keeping up with us Ds in no time.” Makino hummed as she gave a light nip to Buggy’s inner thigh before turning her attention to Crocodile. “Would you like me to take care of you too while I’m down here, Dear, or do you have other things in mind for our Blue?”

Crocodile smirked and wrapped his arm around Blue’s waist, pulling him up and onto his waist, grinding slowly against him as he stared at Makino watching them both with heated eyes. “Oh, I owe Blue. Plus, I’ve been wanting to drag those sounds out of him for a very long time now.” 

“You could have said, Dear, he was yours first after all.” Makino hummed. “Do you need me to fetch some lube for you to prepare him? I figured you would wait until he was healed is all.”

“ Fuck being healed…” Buggy gasped as the words finally sunk in. His breaths were coming out in harsh pants, his skin felt flamed and heart rabbitted violently in his chest. “ Yes, seas, yes .”

Makino hummed as she kissed Buggy again before slipping out of bed and into her wheelchair. “I’ll sit out then once I go get the lube from the bathroom. My legs won’t hold up for me to ride him well enough to share today. You two deserve a proper first time together anyway.”

A groan left Buggy as he let Coyote manipulate him how he wanted him to be, his hazy blue eyes locked onto her. “Stay. Watch.” 

“Oh I planned to, love, I can’t wait to see you break.” Makino purred. “I just meant I won’t be participating much this time. ”

“Tell me Azizi, what would you have him do if you both weren't so injured?” Crocodile asked, gasping as he felt his Blue's hand slip between them.  

“Well, it would depend, wouldn't it?” Makino hummed as she rolled back into the room to pass Crocodile a bottle of lube. “After all only good boys get to cum, so it would vary depending on if we were using him for our own pleasure or rewarding him. I would certainly need a bit of practice before I could take you both the way I’d like to.”

Crocodile paused in what he was doing, earning a whimper from the man in front of him as he turned to stare at the woman with a slack jaw. “Oh, you are a treasure, Green. Rare as they come. Is that what you’ve been thinking of over the last few days hmm?” 

“ Please,” Makino scoffed lightly. “I’ve wanted to ride him until he begged me to stop since he made heart eyes at seeing me with a gun in my hand. All I could think about for the past year would be how pretty he’d look all fucked out or on his knees eating me out. Monkey Ds are known for our stamina and insatiable appetites after all. You on the other hand I wanted to see if you could break me.”

“Well then Green, when you are healed, it’ll be my absolute pleasure to try.” Crocodile chuckled as he turned his attention back to his squirming Blue. “Ah, I’m sorry Blue, I promised you a reward and here I am neglecting you.” 

“Hmm, I think he gets off on it when we talk about him like he isn’t there.” Makino hummed as she crawled back into bed and moved Buggy’s head into her lap. “Isn’t that right, Blue. Look how hard he is dear you haven’t even actually touched him yet. We’ve just been talking and he’s already so needy for you.”

“How long has it been Blue? How long has it been since someone has touched you like this?” Crocodile asked as he trailed half bitten kisses down his Blue’s chest, savouring every ragged gasp and whine. “When was the last time someone worshipped you?” 

“ Years… ” Buggy squirmed as his skin hit into oversensitivity. His limbs shook as Crocodile paused in his tracks, as Makino stopped stroking his hair. All of a sudden he felt like he had said something wrong .

 “Did—did I say something wrong?” he asked, swallowing thickly as he tried to pull away and curl in. Only to be met with grips just shy of bruising at his hips and neck as they held him in place. 

“You haven’t done anything wrong, Honey.” Makino soothed as she gripped his chin to make him meet her eyes. “Just give us a moment so we stay in control.” 

“Control?” Buggy whimpered softly as he looked from Makino to Coyote. Just to find the older man looking at him like he was starving and Buggy was his first proper meal in years. 

“Yes, honey.” Makino soothed as she carefully began running her hand through his hair again. “You made us want to lose control, to claim you as ours over being mindful of our injuries.” 

“Look at how he’s looking at you, Blue.” Makino purred as Crocodile slipped a finger inside Buggy to begin stretching him. “Look at how hungry he is for you.”

Buggy gasped at the sheer Want in those dark eyes he loved so much, a whimper into a moan as his Coyote leant over him, over them. He knew his Coyote was a big man, hard to miss it but this, here… the fact that Coyote could cover the both of them with his bulk and still be able to stretch him. 

“ Fuck… Coyote!” He cried out, hips bucking as Coyote twisted his fingers while adding another. 

Crocodile hummed eyes watching as he went back to nipping and biting at every exposed bit of flesh available to him. His cock throbbed impatiently as he made Buggy writhe beneath him but the impatience only got worse when Makino began tweaking Buggy’s nipples. It had Crocodile groaning at the sensation of Buggy clamping down even tighter on his fingers. 

“Oh he loved that, Azizi.” Crocodile rumbled teasingly. “I think you may have found one of his favorite spots to be teased.”

“Is that true, honey?” Makino said sweetly as she continued her teasing. “Do you like when I touch you here?”

“ Yes!” The word tore out of him as she pinched him again at the same time as Coyote thrust his fingers. “ Please… Please… Please Coyote… Need you… want to cum on your cock not fingers! ”

A low groan escaped Crocodile at that, body spasming with the force to hold himself back, still very aware how the two treasures under him were hurt. But he couldn't wait for his Blue to be healed… but then again… his Blue’s fruit could have his waist detached and Crocodile wouldn't have to worry about hurting his Blue if that's what Blue wanted. 

“Oh, you’ll cum on that too.” Crocodile growled softly. “So pretty for me like this, hayati. I’ve waited so long to have you like this.”

“Ah~ Coyote, please!” Buggy cried out. “Please fuck me, mon cœur!”

Crocodile groaned, leaning back to check how far he’d stretched his Blue. Being part giant meant he’d need to be careful prepping both of them so that he didn’t hurt them unintentionally. It was hard to keep control with the smell of their combined arousal permeating the air. It drove the instincts he ignored so much wild, especially when he looked into Makino’s challenging eyes. Seeing he’d stretched Buggy enough that he shouldn’t tear, Crocodile finally let his own cock spring free. 

The needy moan that left both of them at the sight caused a pleased growl to rumble deep from his chest as he watched Buggy buck up onto his fingers and Makino’s eyes to darken even further as she rubbed her thighs together. Two people with size kinks, how in all the seas did he get so fucking lucky. He’d never in his life been so damn happy to be part giant. A hiss left him when Makino suddenly leaned forward smothering Buggy’s face in her breasts again as she wrapped her tiny hand around his cock and began stroking. 

“Our Blue is lucky.” Makino practically purred, moaning when Buggy latched on to her nipple and started sucking despite the shirt in the way. “To get to be the first of us to feel such a big cock fucking him open.”

“You can have a turn too if you’d like, Azizi.” Crocodile moaned, fighting the urge to growl when she removed her hand to stroke buggy’s instead. “When I’m done wearing him out of course.”

Makino grinned a feral little thing. “Not tonight, no, I plan to ride that to my hearts content when I'm better though, oh the plans. But you better get on with it Dear, Buggy’s been a real good boy waiting.” 

“He has.” Crocodile hummed. “Sit back up, Azizi, I want to see his reaction to me filling him up for the first time.”

Buggy blinked up at him with hazy eyes, cheeks flushed and swollen lips. Crocodile groaned as Makino smirked and lubed him up, a rumbling growl leaving as that wicked woman lined him up to his Blue’s entrance. She was going to be the death of them both. 

The view and sounds his Blue made as Crocodile inched himself in slowly, curses of his own spilling past his lips into a low growl as even with the stretching, his Blue was sinfully tight around him. His control was rapidly failing and the only thing holding him back from snapping his hips  forward in one rough movement was the fact his Blue was hurt. 

“I’ll keep him steady, Dear.” Makino purred as she trailed her hand back up Buggy’s chest. “Stop holding back and take him, Crocodile, he’s been so good for us after all.”

“Don’t want to hurt him.” Crocodile grunted as he kept slowly sliding in. 

“That’s easy enough to avoid with our Blue, dear.” Makino hummed as she lovingly stroked Buggy’s hair. “Isn’t that right, honey? Do you want to separate at your hips so your Coyote can fuck you without having to be careful of your ribs?”

The rumbling snarl that left Crocodile's lips as Buggy did as Makino suggested caused him to thrust forward, sheathing himself fully and causing Buggy to arch and wail, his hands clawing into Crocodile’s thighs, feet scrambling for purchase as his Coyote bent him into positions that wouldn't be feasible if he was still whole. Even detached Buggy could feel him in his throat.

“Look, Blue, you took all of him on your first try.” Makino praised as she gently shifted Buggy up so his back was to her chest. “You’re doing so good, honey. Keep your eyes open and watch him as he fills you up so well.” 

Moaning Buggy forced his eyes open to watch as Crocodile set a vicious pace that absolutely would have aggravated his every injury had he stayed whole. It had been years since he’d had any kind of bed partner but none of them even came anywhere close to the cock Coyote was driving in and out of him now. He couldn’t believe it fit at all let alone that Crocodile was steadily pulling all the way back to just the tip before slamming home again. 

“Talk to him, Crocodile dear, tell our Blue how good he feels.” Makino purred as she began to nip and bite along Buggy’s neck and shoulders again. She wanted him over stimulated and so fucked out he didn’t know whether to beg for them to stop or for more. 

“He’s so fucking tight.” Crocodile grunted watching as he disappeared inside Buggy again and again. “Never had one that could take all of me this tight. Feels like he was made to take my cock.”

“ Ah~ Coyote!” Buggy whined, face flushed as he stared at the older man. “ Oh seas!”

“What do you say when given such a nice compliment, Blue honey?” Makino purred as she reached around to play with Buggy’s nipples again. 

“ Ah… thank… thank you!” Buggy cried out as he spasmed in Makino’s hold just to earn a punishing twist that had him wailing. 

“Thank you what, honey? Remember your manners.” Makino said sternly watching over Buggy’s shoulders to see Crocodile’s eyes darkened further at the small punishment she was doling out. 

“ Sir! ” Buggy wailed. “ Th-thank… ah~ thank you, Sir!”

“ Good boy.” Makino and Crocodile growled out at the same time. 

Another rumbling snarl left Crocodile as he felt his Blue tighten even further around him and oh he wished he had two hands to hold his legs the way he wanted for the position that was sure to send his Blue screaming. Blue, his Blue, was made for him, taking all of him without complaint, greedily trying to lock him into place. Coyote vaguely wondered what he did in his life to earn this, to deserve this man. 

“Seas Blue you have no idea what you're doing to me, what power you have.” Crocodile groaned as he leant back bringing Buggy’s lower half to straddle his elbows to lift him higher.

Looking up he saw Makino whispering in Buggy’s ear as Crocodile continued to drag moans and whines from the younger man. He wondered what she was saying until she lifted Buggy higher in her lap and giving him a clear view of her glistening pussy. Crocodile would need to be sure to take care of her after he finished with Blue. Her presence had taken this joining straight out of his wildest fantasies as she boldly took advantage of both Blue’s devil fruit and his submissive nature. 

Well… Crocodile thought he would have to take care of her until with a whine Buggy detached his cock and floated it up the bed into Makino’s waiting hand. He’d expected her to tease Buggy more while Crocodile continued to wreck the younger man’s ass as if it was his only mission in life which was probably why his rhythm stuttered and his mouth dropped when she reached beneath Buggy’s flushed torso and started fucking herself with his cock like it was just a toy she kept in her bedside drawer. He didn’t even get to hear Buggy’s reaction to it because as she inserted his cock inside her she yanked his ponytail to force his head to turn so she could kiss him, greedily devouring every whine and moan the sensations of fucking and being fucked were dragging out of him. 

Crocodile bared his teeth at her, she stole his Blue’s sounds, sounds Coyote has been thinking of, hoping to hear for years . Oh, she may be a siren, he may like her and her dominating side but right now Blue should have been his and that sound was his to steal. As if sensing his ire Makino pulled away with a hum to instead ravage Buggy’s neck some more. 

“Be loud for your Coyote, honey.” Makino hummed. “He wants to hear you.”

Buggy wanted to, seas, did he want to but he was steadily reaching that point of oblivion. The sensations too overwhelming from all ends, being filled and being used to fill someone while he is in pieces at their mercy… 

Makino just hummed a bit, stopping her own use of his body to turn her attention to Crocodile as she lovingly stroked Buggy’s hair. “Pause for a moment, Crocodile Dear, or he’s going to pass out.”

A needy moan escaped his lips as the sudden stop, no, no, no that isn't what he wanted. He swallowed, fingers curling tight into the sheets as he tried to form words, to force them out… “no don't… I'll be good… please… don't stop.”

“We’re not stopping because you’ve misbehaved, honey. Just letting you breathe is all.” Makino soothed. “You were starting to breathe too fast, Blue.”

“I… I can keep going!” Buggy whined. 

“And we will.” Crocodile murmured softly as he gently stroked along Buggy’s hips. “There’s nothing wrong with taking a break from getting overwhelmed.”

Overwhelmed… he was. By the feeling of them, by the pleasure, the smells and taste. His haki singing with theirs as he wraps it around them both, his will to stay separated by whole was getting harder to control. Seas, his head ached and as did his body, but his dream, one of them was coming true and like he said fuck the pain and haki drain. 

“Are you okay to continue honey?” Makino asked gently. 

Yes… no… he wants to but it's too much. But this is everything, he couldn't stop now, not when he could see Coyote's eyes burning and hungry, he looked feral and wrecked. The muscles in his thighs and stomach jumped with each twitch as Buggy tightened around him. “Yes, please, Coyote! Please, mon cœur, fuck me! Wreck me, make me scream your name. Make me yours Coyote or Green can fuck me with mine. ” 

The sound that left Crocodile's throat could rival those of his beasts at home, that was the last snap to his very remarkable iron will. Buggy felt his eyes widen as Coyote lifted him once more till only his tip remained before slamming him down right as he thrust up. The pace was punishing and fantastic… Each thrust was aimed perfectly at the bundle of nerves and sent sparks of fire right through him.  God if it felt this good now what will it feel like when he's complete once more?

Makino didn’t hesitate either as she resumed fucking herself with Buggy’s cock. “You feel so good, Blue honey, can’t wait until Crocodile makes you fill me up over and over again.”

Crocodile's pace didn't slow as he watched them both, watched this woman break his Blue while holding his gaze. Her soft moans coming out in sharp pants as she tried to keep pace with his own animalistic thrusts. His Blue was a shattered mess of flushed cheeks, kiss bitten lips and the beast within him purred at the mottled marks and bites they had left in their wake . 

“Cum for us, Blue.” Makino purred. “Fill me up.”

“I'm so close, Hayati, won't last much longer… cum now!” Crocodile growled out as he kept up his pace, trying to but that all fell away as he felt his Blue clench tight and flutter around him as he came, pulling Crocodile right along with him. 

“ COYOTE! ” Buggy cried out as he arched, nails leaving a blaze down Crocodile's thighs. 

“ Blue… ” Coyote groaned, grinding slower to push his cum deeper. Groaning softly at the view still before him, his Blue blissed out, tears running down his cheeks and sated while Makino was panting as she pulled Buggy’s cock from her. 

As she caught her breath Makino hummed, lovingly stroking Buggy’s hair as he became more and more boneless against her coming down from the most intense orgasm of his life. “You did so good, Blue honey, you were perfect.”

Crocodile leant forward, cupping his Blues cheek and gently pressing a kiss against his brow. “So good for me Blue, get some rest, Green and I will care for you.” 

Buggy hummed, his mind still hazy but knowing he was safer and more loved than he could ever recall being as Makino shifted him down until his head was in her lap. Her touch was light as she carefully pulled the tie free from his hair and grabbed up the brush from the table by the bed to begin meticulously brushing through his hair. Distantly he noted the bed shifting as Crocodile got up but it wasn’t long before it shifted again and a warm cloth dragged gently over his sweat slick skin. 

He didn’t remember the pair gently guiding his body back together as he floated or Makino twisting his hair into an intricate braid. He did though remember the gentle kisses and soft praise that they showered him with while he drifted. By the time he was back to himself they’d reverted back to the position they’d been in in the beginning with both he and Makino sprawled on Crocodile’s chest. 

“Green, Coyote?” Buggy rasped his voice hoarse from how long they had him screaming out his pleasure. 

“Yes, honey/hayati?” The two answered simultaneously making Makino giggle and a deep rumbling chuckle from Coyote. 

“This… this wasn’t a dream right?” Buggy whispered hesitantly. “I’ll… I’ll still have you like this when I wake up, won’t I? Both of you… you’ll stay?”

Their hearts twisted at that, Crocodile remembering their argument from the other night and couldn't help but press a kiss to his crown as he whispered his reply. “It's not a dream, Blue, seas, I'm so glad it's not a dream, they're usually a lot more just us when I have them.”

“We're staying Blue, don't worry. You’re ours now.” Makino hummed just as soft as she snuggled into Buggy’s good side. “Goodnight dears.” 

“Goodnight.”

Chapter Text

Buggy winced as he sat up from his office chair in the Main Arena. His uncle had come through and was able to push his network into the Grand Line ahead of schedule. The villagers of Orange Town were sad to see them go but Buggy had taught them all they could over the years, they'll be fine plus, there was a handful of his crew that wished to stay. They had made a life and home here and he couldn't begrudge them that.

It had been several days after Makino and Crocodile had liquefied him via pleasure and both took great enjoyment in making sure the marks stayed. It was going to be an interesting reunion, between his brother’s teasing and Rayleigh's looks with Luffy he doesn't know how he's going to explain them. Though he could leave it to his bite happy partners.

They'd be able to leave faster than they had planned but Buggy didn't mind, neither did Green or Coyote. Though he hated the Line, his family was there now, he can stomach the grief for visits and so he can take two of his most important people back to their son. 

A sigh left him as he eyed the den den. Shanks had spoken to Luffy about Crocodile but the kid had been told so much he wasn't wanted that he didn't know what was true and would like to meet him in person. He wasn’t sure what had hurt more the heartbreak in Crocodile’s eyes or the understanding. 

To make up for it the best way she could Makino told Crocodile all the stories she had about raising Luffy so that the older man in some way at least could feel closer to the child he’d been denied a connection to. It helped on the more stressful days to come back to Makino’s little home to see her carefully walking Crocodile through how to make Luffy’s favorite treats in the kitchen that really was too small for a man of his stature but somehow they made it work. Adding Makino into the group also meant Crocodile smoked less because no one was as used to feeding a D without relying on suppressants the way Makino was. 

Granted, Crocodile teased regularly that she was trying to get him fat but Buggy had a feeling he was happy for the break from chain smoking too. In the same way he noticed that some days Makino seemed to pull away from them a bit, even flinch when their hands drifted too close to her scars, and vanish from the house. Thankfully anytime she left without one of them the twins accompanied her and Buggy had already assigned them as her “guard” when he noticed just how protective the men had become of the tiny barmaid. Still she felt sadder on those days, quieter and one day when he’d picked up on the change in her voice he crept out from the Main Arena and followed her. He didn’t want to invade her private time but he was also worried for her. 

His chest had ached as he watched her go into New Town and spend the allowance he gifted her on flowers. She never brought fresh flowers to the house, in the last few weeks any arrangement had been a small gift from him or Crocodile. After the flower stall the trio had gone to the coast with one twin taking the flowers while the other carried Makino to set her just far enough in that the small waves crashed over her lower legs. It had taken careful maneuvering to get onto the Big Top without being seen and then every ounce of his self control not to run to her when he saw the tears that carved down her face as she carefully crafted crowns out of the flowers. 

That was the day he learned Makino when she grieved did so silently. Because that was all the pain written on her face could be as she dropped the crowns into the waves and watched them be carried out to sea. He never told anyone what he saw, not even Crocodile and he never followed her down to the coast again. Buggy had lost everything multiple times in his life, the pain an old ache that only flared on his worst days. For Makino that ache was new and every time she saw her new scars, still new enough to be more red than fading pink, she had to remember. Makino deserved to be able to grieve all she lost when she felt the need to. 

“Blue, Crocodile, could I ask you a favor?” Makino asked as she carefully carried dishes to the table that evening. She’d been walking more at home lately when they were there with her. 

“Of course, what do you need?” Buggy said as he looked up from reports he’d brought home just in time to see her wince as she set the food loaded plates on the table. Ah, another bad pain day, Buggy thought as he sent his hands to gather the plates of food she left behind. 

“If you have the time could one of you, or both if you’d like, take me into the forest before dark tomorrow?” Makino asked as she shot Buggy an apologetic yet thankful look. 

“The forest? What could you need up there?” Crocodile asked incredulously. 

“I’ve noticed the trees here are similar to Dawn. I want to see if there’s a specific type because it’s vines make excellent walking sticks.” Makino hummed. “Rough seas aren’t exactly wheelchair friendly nor can I just hang off of one of you all the time. I’ll need something to help when you are all busy so I’m not a burden.”

“You're never a burden, even if we get attacked on our way back I'm not worried, I know you're a good shot.” Buggy exclaimed seriously and she was.

A small East Blue pirate crew had come only yesterday and before Buggy could even say a word Makino had stood, a double barrel materialising from somewhere and had shot. She had rendered half the crew crippled before he could even blink. It was beautiful. If he spent the next several hours showing her that then that's between Coyote, Green, and himself. 

“But we can take you, there are going to be rules though.” Buggy stated watching as she cocked her brow at him unimpressed but by the Seas, this one thing. “You are not allowed to take down any form of animal barehanded and with your teeth, if I see you eating a heart I'm leaving you to the forest.”

A laugh escaped Makino at that while Crocodile was confused. “Now Blue, we all know the liver has the most nutrients.”

“Tell that to Luffy.” Buggy deadpanned. “He gave me and my idiots a heart attack when he took down a bear and ate the heart. It was a mission just to even allow us to cook it.”

“He's like that with his hunts, seas bless Beckman and Shanks for convincing him to eat it cooked more often than not.” Makino laughed softly.

Crocodile groaned and buried his face into his hands. His son was a feral Monster and if that was in any way true then his hatchling acquired his mother's hunger and bloodlust on top of the Monkey D’s. His Blue said Luffy desired to be the King and Crocodile sent out a quiet apology to whatever chef his son acquired.

“You don’t crave raw meat too do you?” Crocodile asked. He hadn’t seen her eat anything raw but that didn’t mean she didn’t want it. 

“If it’s cooked past medium rare, I don’t want it.” Makino said with a wrinkled nose. “And if I do want raw meat, fish works well enough.”

Buggy dramatically draped himself over the chair and groaned, bringing his hand up to cover his eyes, smothering his smirk as her giggles got louder. “But yes, we can go if you'll allow me to make it a proper walking cane for you.”

“Thanks, honey.” Makino hummed as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. “The twins are taking me to Top for a check up with Sorena in the morning. We could go after that if you two aren’t busy?”

“You have an appointment on the ship?” Crocodile questioned suddenly sitting up straighter. “Why didn’t you say sooner?”

Makino was silent making Buggy stop with his dramatics to take in how uncomfortable the young woman suddenly looked. “Green, has someone on the ship made you uncomfortable?”

“… No… No, it was no one on the crew.” Makino said after a long silence. 

“Then why does Coyote look worried about you going to the infirmary?” Buggy said with a raised brow noting how Makino sent a pleading look towards Crocodile. Buggy just wasn’t sure if she was wanting the oldest of them to keep or explain the secret. Because there was definitely a secret. 

“Yes or no, Azizi, do you want him to know?” Crocodile said keeping his eyes trained on Makino. 

“It’s not going to change any—” Makino started. 

“Yes or no, Azizi.” Crocodile cut her off. 

“Yes… but… I can’t…” Makino said softly as she gathered up their empty plates. 

“Okay.” Crocodile said gently. “Leave the plates, we’ll handle them. Take your pain medicine and go lie down. I’ll explain it.” 

Makino nodded as she stood only stopping to let Crocodile kiss her head when he tugged her closer before using the wall to shuffle her way into the living room. Buggy wanted to coo at the display of affection but was too busy staring worriedly after Makino. Why was this something Crocodile knew but not him?

“Coyote, what’s going on?” Buggy asked once he could hear Makino climbing into their bed. 

“To preface, it is nothing that the crew has done.” Crocodile huffed. “Sorena is also aware, which is why she comes here to do Makino’s therapy. Makino is terrified of the infirmary. Doctors and nurses in general truthfully, especially men, but it’s worse in the infirmary.”

“A lot of people are scared of medics. Needles and stuff like that.” Buggy said with a raised brow. “ That wouldn’t be why she looked nervous about me finding out.” 

“The village doctor in Foosha tried to assault her when she was thirteen. He’d promised free treatment for Luffy and the hatchling had a very high fever so she took him.” Crocodile said slowly, lighting up one of his cigars to keep his anger in check. “The price however was her body. I don’t know how far he got, she told me when I was scolding her for not asking for help and getting you hurt as a result. I only know he didn’t get what he wanted and she took Luffy, left, and avoided being alone with medics at all costs after that.”

Buggy felt his heart shatter. He knew life hadn’t been easy on her raising Luffy but he’d hoped it was relatively safe for the barmaid she was. It was even expected that she’d been assaulted at some point. He knew of one incident of harassment from the story being Beckman and Red’s Luffy scars. But for her to have been so young.

“Coyote… we left her alone with a doctor she’d never met.” Buggy choked out. “… she must have been so scared.”

“She was and I apologized for both of us once I found out why she didn’t call for Sorena.” Crocodile said calmly. “We couldn’t have known and she knows that. She does quite like Sorena now that they’ve gotten to know each other. She’s still very anxious during exams though especially if they’re in the infirmary. The men make her nervous so she doesn’t like being there alone.”

He should have known, should have seen it . Red was the same, it's why Buggy got so good at knives, why he didn't let a single leer get unpunished. He knew she was uncomfortable the day they left, but he ignored it thinking it was left over panic from believing she’d upset him and he shouldn't have. Seas, this was an entire cluster fuck. But oh, ohhh that doctor better thank whatever fucking gods he believed in in the afterlife, because if he was alive now Buggy would spend many days and hours making sure that he felt every year of terror he inflicted on their Green. He would have to be better. He never not once let someone touch his Red after he found out, nor would he let another slight against Coyote or Green go… he'll be as he always is and remind people of Blue.

“Blue?” Crocodile asked leaning forward, watching as his Blue’s face transformed from devastation to fury, the same cold fury he had when facing Garp. 

“... fine, I'm fine.” Buggy stated slowly and shaking the dark thoughts from his head. “We'll just be better, if one of us have to be with her from now on then we will, even if it's just at the door or if she needs to take parts of me with her.”

“Can you release the dagger, Hayati,” Crocodile murmured as he strode over and gently took the blade from his Blue’s hand. “Thank you, where did your mind go?”

“Red… you.” Buggy explained, forcing the words through his teeth. He knew that Coyote understood him, what he meant.

“We’re all safe, Hayati.” Crocodile soothed. “ We can protect her now. I got worried because she didn’t mention an appointment aboard the ship until tonight, but she does still worry about being a burden due to her injuries, especially since she knows we’re trying to get back to the line quickly, for all that she’s been better about it.”

Buggy closed his eyes and leaned into Coyote's hip. “It'll be hard, I won't lie, it'll be difficult and that's something she's just going to have to overcome and conquer herself. You and I know there are all sorts of Pirates with missing limbs or injuries who still sail.” 

“I know, I'm afraid she won't stop thinking that until she proves to herself otherwise.” Crocodile hummed, running his hand through his Blues hair. “Her mobility is improving everyday even if she does still have days she has to stay in her chair or the bed.”

“She's still overusing her haki, she's still stuck in that flight mode even if I take most of the burden to keep her quiet.” Buggy explained. “I still have yet to call and tell Red. He'll need know to make sure to be ready when we're close.”

“I think… I think she’ll be in that until she can be reunited with Luffy.” Crocodile hummed. “When she was telling me she said the only person that had ever protected her was the little boy on the other side of the world. She knows we won’t let anything happen to her but I don’t think her mind will allow her to fully let go until Luffy is nearby even if it means she crashes hard as a result.”

“The last time someone hurt Green within view of Luffy ended up being crushed. He bit through Beckman’s arm and Red's neck just to try and get back at him.” Buggy grunted. “With his strength and now Beckman’s blessing, seas forbid anyone tried now.”

“… it’ll be fun to watch at least.” Crocodile shrugged. 

“I know you're upset too, Coyote, about Luffy not wanting to speak with you. He remembers getting shot with Dragon and then being dumped on Garp while being told that he wasn't wanted.” Buggy sighed. “Once he meets you properly, he'll get over that and will want to ride your shoulders.” 

“I don’t fault a child for his choices. It hurts, yes but I understand. In the meantime one of Luffy’s treasures has also become mine .” Crocodile said firmly. “So I’ll protect my son’s Mama until she decides to be sick of us.”

Buggy blinked and then realised that Crocodile didn't know. He didn't know that Buggy was also one of Luffy's treasures. He never got around to telling Makino and Coyote that he was Earth Blessed the moment he took Luffy into his arms that night over a year ago. 

“Let's head to bed before Green worries, mon cœur.” Buggy sighed as he got to his feet, gently tugging Coyote with him. He was sad, furious, but there was nothing to do but stand with Green till she felt strong and safe again. 

Buggy just knows that he's going to feel sorry for the next poor bastards that try to get in his way, he's angry, furious. He has been ever since he took Luffy into his arms and watched Green set fire to the sea. Beating Garp released some of that, but not all and Buggy is low key terrified if he bottles it all up and explodes. He knows what he's capable of, knows what his fruit can do when he loses control of his temper… he just doesn't want to accidentally hurt those he loves. 

“Oh, Green, it's okay. We’ve got you.” Buggy whispered as they slipped into the room to see a silently crying Makino. “Can I hold you, ma chérie?” 

Makino latched onto her Blue and Crocodile the moment they got close enough, pulling them down into the bed. She always felt safest between Blue and Crocodile, knowing with them there no one or thing would get to her. 

“Thank you Dears.” She whispered as she curled further into them both. 

“No need to thank us… but would it make things easier if I started to teach you blades? They're easy to hide and conceal, plus Coyote can teach you all about his poisons.” Blue asked as he ran a hand through her hair.

“Poisons, what poisons? I've got no poisons.” Crocodile quipped back as he moved his hook behind his back, smiling at the laugh it got him. “But yes, if you want Azizi, I can teach you about darts as well. I used to be a sniper before my hand was taken.” 

“I am a good shot.” Makino hummed. “But I wouldn’t mind learning more ways of fighting. I taught Luffy a bit about staffs too but that was mainly to help his reach when it came to the fighting monkeys Garp forced on him.”

“... I really should have blown him up further.” Buggy muttered to himself. 

“… I guess you wouldn’t want to know that Mãe had me fighting the monkeys and such too?” Makino said with a raised brow. “Granted mine were actually supervised.”

“Is it just a family tradition to fight your family namesake or something?!” Buggy groaned burrowing his face against Makino’s neck. 

“Yes, actually.” Makino giggled. “One that even the women take part in.”

“ Fucking Monkey Ds !” Buggy groaned dramatically, smiling when it made Makino continue to giggle. “Stop fighting your medicine and sleep, ma chérie. We’ll still be here when you wake up.”

“I love you.” Makino murmured as she burrowed against Crocodile’s chest. Despite his name the man radiated heat like a furnace especially his hands and Makino loved how the heat of them soothed the pain. 

Both Crocodile and Buggy brushed soft kisses over her crown while they curled around her. Crocodile hesitantly let his conqueror’s wash over her, so she could feel his sentiment in return before pulling back. He doesn't know if he'll ever be able to say the words, not yet at least. Blue he knew understood but at times he got nervous if their surprise third knew he really did care and want her around. 

When they woke, Buggy was already gone from their bed, confusing the two as he usually was one of the last to wake. Breakfast had already been made and waiting for them, a simple mix of fresh fruits and honey that they both enjoyed but still no Blue. 

Crocodile frowned and stretched out his haki, feeling the flickers of all the crew but not his Blue. His stomach dropped, normally his Blue only hid when he was upset. Still most of the crew seemed focused around the ship and that seemed as good a spot as any to find a hint of Blue’s whereabouts. 

“What time are you supposed to meet Sorena, Azizi?” Crocodile asked as he carefully eased her into a tub full of steaming water. 

It hurt to see her wincing every time she thought he was distracted when normally the pain wouldn’t show on her face at all. They could only tell she was hurting on the days she shouldn’t be leaving the bed but never failed to do so anyway. Stubborn woman. 

“Ah, Sorena said to come by around nine or ten this morning.” Makino hummed. “Thank you for helping me into the bath, dear.”

“No need to thank me, Azizi.” Crocodile huffed. “Something seems to be happening at the ship. Would you like me to check it out and come back or accompany me there once you’ve finished?” 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Makino questioned moving to get out of the water just for Crocodile to gently push her back into the tub. 

“Because the soak Sorena made helps significantly with your pain and Blue is more than capable of handling whatever is going on.” Crocodile said like he wasn’t worried about what could possibly be making his Blue suppress himself. “If he needed back up he would have woken me before leaving or flared his haki by now.”

Makino pouted at that but obliged him by taking thirty minutes to soak in the steaming water. By the time she was dressed once more the subtle anger surrounding the crew’s Voices had calmed more though Buggy continued to hide his voice. Stepping into the living room, Crocodile choked at the sight of Makino. 

They all kept forgetting to go purchase her own wardrobe from the town so most of the time she could be caught in Buggy’s old clothing. Mostly his shirts and his sash fashioned into a skirt but she’d opted for something different today. Instead of a slightly faded out and feminized version of Buggy’s outfit he was met with the sight of a shirt he’d thrown out days ago due to a large rip in the sleeve he’d caused by accident. Makino however had apparently reclaimed it by hemming up the sleeves to better match her arm length before mirroring the rip on the opposite sleeve. The shirt that should have drowned her completely still fell past her knees but was made form fitting by way of a corset that pushed her breasts up to the point the buttons strained a bit with the effort of containing them. 

She’d pulled her hair into a high bun though her side bangs had already escaped as they did every time she pulled her hair back. The outfit showcased the scars she’d won in her survival especially the ones on her arms though the worst of them marred her back and remained hidden beneath the burgundy shirt wrapped around her frame. Oh he couldn’t wait for Buggy to see her in this get up. 

“Does it look bad?” Makino asked, her hands nervously smoothing down the fabric. “I can change?” 

“ No. ” Crocodile said sharply a bit too sharply if her small flinch and wide eyes were anything to go by. “No. You look beautiful, Azizi. You always do.”

“I’m glad!” Makino beamed. Had she seriously been of mind that he wouldn’t love the sight of her wrapped in his clothes as much as Buggy did when she wore his? “I was worried you’d be upset that I took the shirt.” 

“Hn, I was throwing it out anyway.” Crocodile grunted. “This is a much better use. Now, let’s get you to the ship so we can get this pesky exam out of the way, yes?”

Arriving at the ship he was unsurprised to see the crew going through the process of cleaning up after a skirmish. Lower crew members were hard at work scrubbing spilled blood from the deck while shipwrights inspected and repaired damages to the ship and sails. It seemed Buggy had taken the crew out to meet a raiding crew over putting on his usual act. 

“Cabaji!” Crocodile called as he landed on deck with Makino perched daintily on his forearm. “Where is Blue?” 

“ Ah , ah-ha-haaa, Crocodile!” Cabaji yelped. “Captain is in his office. The um… the crew that came pissed him off.” 

“And why is that?” Crocodile questioned sternly. 

“The… the Marines released a new Bounty for Ms. Makino… the picture was new and the crew’s Captain recognized Captain Buggy’s clothes.” Cabaji said hesitantly. “And well… since you survived a Buster Call and took down all those marines to fake your death before, Miss, the price is high. They tried to collect. Captain went into his office to cool down since Sorena ain’t cleared him for the labs yet.”

Crocodile paused, the implications of that high . They will definitely need to tell Red soon then, today. “And pray tell what reason has Sorena banned Buggy from the labs? Is he hurt?”

“No Sir, he… the last time we saw him this mad was just before we reached Sabaody. The pirate captain said something about his brother, another shot the kid.” Cabaji winced when he realised what he just said, eyes snapping to Ms Makino, the kids mom. “Ah, sorry Ms Makino, the cub’s alright, the Captain made sure to deal the injuries out tenfold.”

“I wasn’t worried. I know Luffy is bullet proof so long as it isn’t seastone.” Makino said calmly. “Crocodile Dear, we should go check on Blue.”

“Ah, that would be ill advised Ms Makino, he's banned from the lab but not his daggers. He usually takes out the last of his aggression by throwing them.” Cabaji exclaimed as she went to walk away. “Perhaps send Sir Crocodile in first…?”

“Thank you Cabaji, Crocodile let's go.” Makino commanded as she kept going, she'd take Cabaji's word under advisement. 

Crocodile watched and surveyed the crew as they passed, all of them keeping their eyes down and making sure nothing was in Makino's way. As they got closer to Buggy’s cabin they could see Mohji and Richie outside the door, blocking off entry as he read out reports. 

“Mohji, we'd like to see Buggy.” Makino stated, causing the man to jolt and drop everything in his hands. 

“Sorry ma'am… that… right now isn't a good time. The captain's angry and he'd never forgive himself if he hurt you.” Mohji stammered out but Crocodile only sighed, shifting into sand to slip behind Mohji and open the door. 

He let the three daggers that were thrown to fly through him, catching the fourth with ease. His Blue’s eyes were alight with Rage, blood splattered across his face and his usual attire was replaced with his Captain Facade… the rage dimmed as comprehension cleared his vision and then one into horror as he took note of who he had just thrown a dagger at.

“ Coyote…” Buggy rasped as he staggered back. “Sorry, sorry… I didn't mean to throw them at you.”

“Blue, calm, it's okay I barged in and you're still riding the adrenalin of combat. I was warned beforehand, you knew enough to not use armament and if it was anyone else it would have been classed as a warning shot.” Crocodile explained as he stepped forward, voice soothing. “Green and I just wanted to check in with you, we were worried when you weren't with us this morning.”

“Couldn't sleep.” Buggy rasped. “Got up to do more paperwork, spoke with Red about Green and thank the flashy fuck I did… I was coming back to bed when I sensed a ship, and didn't hesitate to go.”

“We could have helped you Blue, dear.” Makino piped up from the door and Buggy couldn't help but sigh. 

“I mean no offence when I say this Green, but no, you and Coyote couldn't have. It's my ship, my crew and my job as Captain.” Buggy stated softly but firm. “You are still very much wanted and though there is a new photo of you, they still don't know that you're actually alive and Coyote can't be seen with me at certain points nor be seen helping me without risking his Warlord status.” 

“He's right there, my second and third are doing well to keep my presence with Blue here quiet but at extreme risk of themselves.” Crocodile sighed, pulling Green into his embrace. 

“They’ll know I lived eventually, honey.” Makino said calmly as she stepped out of Crocodile’s gentle hold. 

“I know that Green, but we have yet to tell Luffy.” Buggy said gently. “Garp will try and get him, not yet, not till he recovers because even Garp is wary of my brother and the power he wields.” 

Before anyone else could say a word, Sorena stepped inside the room, a scowl already on her face only for it to melt away. “Oh good, you got him to calm down, he needs to rest those ribs still and the punch he took to the face could have concussed him again . Makino, I was told you were on board, if you want we can do the exam early.”

Buggy glared at his doctor, the snitch. So much for doctor patient confidentiality because now he was going to get a lecture from both Coyote and Green and from the looks on their faces he wasn't going to enjoy the punishment those two came up with.

Makino glared at her idiot. “Crocodile, dear, can you make sure our Blue is okay? Sorena, may we do the examination in here?” 

“I'll take him to the bathroom to clean him up, Azizi. We'll be right next door and stay there till you call us.” Crocodile confirmed as he dragged Buggy out of his office.

“Of course, Ms. Makino.” Sorena said primly. Makino was the Lady of the ship now and though her Captain still had her utmost loyalty a pleased Lady meant a pleased Captain… eventually. “I will still need you in the infirmary for some other tests later though.”

“Understandable. Thank you for being so amenable to my er issues. ” Makino hummed as she undid the ties on her corset knowing the doctor would need access to her back. “Could we wait on Buggy for the infirmary part? Both of my boys wanted to accompany me today.”

“You finally told Captain?” Sorena hummed as she pulled on her gloves. “Good.”

Chapter Text

Buggy groaned when Crocodile worked his shirt over his head and began gently prodding along his ribs. He knew this was coming as soon as his partners came into his office. He had tried to avoid getting hurt for exactly this reason. Coyote was not a gentle nurse. 

“Fucking ow !” Buggy grunted as Crocodile prodded at his still healing rib and the darkening bruise just to the side of it. “ That hurts.”

“I’m not the one that fought with a broken rib that has only had two weeks to heal.” Crocodile snarked. 

“Bastard got in a lucky shot.” Buggy grumbled. “Not all of us can just turn into sand.” 

“And I can’t throw a knife almost too fast to be seen.” Crocodile said with a roll of his eyes as he examined the knot Buggy was sporting on the back of his head. “Any dizziness, blurry vision.”