Chapter Text
It hurt…everything hurt, yet the feeling was almost numbing, and almost welcomed with open arms, it being just a temporary relief, just focusing on the stinging, trying not to remember the dark, damp cell he was in…
He wanted Ace back, he missed him…he missed the bandits, the people of Foosha, but…they were all gone, all of them…just a distant memory. “Ace…” the name was on the tip of his tongue
Ace…has probably found a crew by now, he's probably moved on and forgotten about me…I wonder…how long has it been, since I've seen him…seen the light, seen the blue of the sky, and the vast ocean
Luffy brought his hands to his lower abdomen, holding it tightly, it hurt, he was hungry, yet he couldn't eat, Luffy just wanted to go back…he wanted to see Shanks…and tell him what a failure he has become. Luffy almost scoffed at the thought…of course he knows, he's know that from the start…that he was the utmost failure
“Home…” that word he's uttered under his breath countless times, hoping he'd wake up there from this horrendous nightmare, but Luffy knew it would never happen, the constant throbbing from his wounds reminded him of that, yet it was so comforting.
The pain hurt in a good way, something else to focus on, forgetting the pain of his worthless life…his eyes remained unfocused, staring at the dark wall, the cold ground welcoming to his aching side.
He thought back on the peaceful memories of him and his brothers, how long has it been, he asks this question over and over again, like he'll get some answers soon, and yet that never comes.
He knows it's been a while, he hasn't quite seen himself in a mirror, he knows at least that he's gotten a little bit taller, that his hair has grown, almost touching his lower back, it was knotted and tangled. If he was lucky enough he'd get to jump into a small pond, they didn't want their dirty tracks in the palace or whatever that place is, after a battle in the ‘pit’ that's what their Master's liked to call it anyways.
He doesn't want to live anymore, he's no longer with his loved ones, he's alone, he's no longer the same boy he was before. He's just a broken and battered shell, undeserving of anything, this pathetic world has to offer, but he can't die, not yet…he needed to find Ace at least…and he needs to tell him that they are all gone, that Foosha village was all gone, that…that they were all dead…he needs to tell him that at most, and after that he needs to find Shanks, tell him he's undeserving of his hat…that he had hid before the destruction of Foosha…
How'd it happen again, how'd he end up in this hell hole that's called Heaven, with the ‘gods’ that mock him…
“A5158”
Luffy flinched as he was called, he sat up, not getting off his knees even though they ached and throbbed, as he stared at the ground below him, hands clenched in his lap, he waited for the guard to speak.
“You're going to compete again”
Luffy almost looked up in shock, he'd already battled 2 times today, he was already battered and bruised, why must they be so cruel? He needed to remain calm. There is no point in fighting it…give in…he can't help to think…
The guard opened the cell, and Luffy stood up, his arms in front of him as his chains rattled, his head down as he followed the guard ahead, not batting an eye at the other helpless slaves.
When they had made it to the arena area, the guard removed the chains, leaving only the tight cuffs on his wrists, and ankles…the metal collar around his neck itched as it rubbed against the raw skin as he moved.
He glanced up at the stands seeing his master, and a few other celestial dragons, they were laughing…how much he wished to rip their hearts out, and bash their heads in, yet here he was obeying them like a dog, eating their scraps, if he could he'd make each one of their deaths slow and painful, as he lit this God forsaken place on fire.
“Oh goodie look papa it's A5158, he's fighting again, I wonder how he'll do this time” Some ugly snot nosed man spoke to the elder one beside him
“Yes, I can see that, it seems his master wants him to kick the bucket soon, why else would he put him in the pit 3 times?” The elder man let out an obnoxious laugh, that sounded like a dying pig more than anything
Bastards all of them! Luffy thought
“NOW LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!” some guard called out and Luffy immediately tensed more, as he scanned around the arena that was filled with trees and bushes, for good hiding spots
From behind! Luffy turned quickly as some man pounced onto him, trying to choke him, Luffy immediately dodged, and pinned the guy to the ground, he wasn't really struggling, he's gotten a lot stronger over the time he's been here, and the man wasn't anything special.
The man tried to kick Luffy's stomach unexpectedly, but Luffy dodged, jumping back like some animal.
Shit, he'd been caught up in his head, stupid, stupid, stupid, you've done this so many times, be alert, you do it all the time, focus dammit!
The man swung his fist, and Luffy barely dodged, there was a silver glint that almost grazed his eye, it grazed over his nose, making a clean cut, and it bled a bit after a second, it stung. A knife? How'd he get that? They weren't allowed weapons…even in the pit. Luffy glanced up at the stands and they were all laughing and snickering.
Oh…they wanted him dead. That was clear or at least they were trying to make it harder for him. Luffy immediately turned his attention back to the man, as he rushed towards him, Luffy dodged and was able to take the knife, it was a bit dull but not too bad. The man fell to the ground and immediately started crawling away until he backed up into the wall of the arena, Luffy looked down at him, his empty eyes meeting the pleading ones of the man. Luffy stabbed and stabbed, over and over again, blood coating his arms and hands, the blood splatters on his body, even after the man had passed, Luffy continued viciously, until his face, body were deformed.
He stared down at the man heaving heavily as he did, monster…he was a monster he knew it, but at this point he didn't care.
The celestial dragons cheered, and clapped.
And before he knew it he was back in his cell, his legs to his chest, as his back was pressed against the wall, the blood was drying now, Luffy glanced at the bowl full of food, they told him he'd gotten a treat for being such a good pet or something Ike that, Luffy was to out of it to remember.
He didn't dare to eat it, last time it had been laced with something, and when he came to, he was…naked…he didn't want that again, never, ever again…
Luffy looked down to the small piece of metal in his hand, he'd broken it off from the knife, it wasn't that big, yet it had still cut the skin of his palm, he hadn't even realized how hard he had been squeezing it, after a second he saw the red liquid pour out slowly, covering his pale white skin. It stung and felt so nice, he made another cut on his arm…watching the blood flow…it was so mesmerizing, he couldn't help but want to do it again and again… He could really bleed out here and now if he wanted, his mind was fuzzy.
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“HEYYYY!! What are you whining about now, you big baby?” Luffy looked up Ace was there hands on his hips, looking down at him, he couldn't help but stare at him for a moment
“Ace…” he croaked out weakly, his vision hazed, the tears felt hot against his cold cheeks, he bit his lip, and immediately got up and hugged him tightly
Ace was silent, and cold, Luffy looked up, but regretted it as he was met with a lifeless Makino, he flinches away, stumbling back, only to yelp as he was grabbed, he looked over and saw Ace
“ How could you let this happen? This is all your fault Luffy, you! WHY WERE YOU THE ONLY SURVIVOR!?”
“I- but- Ace I didn't want thi-”
“Liar!! You're just a weak pathetic crybaby!! WHO DOESN'T CARE FOR ANYONE BUT YOURSELF”
“Wha- What!?”
“That's why you're still there. Why you're still acting like some kind of pet? You're weak and don't care about anything but surviving.
“Ace- please!”
“You're not my brother.”
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Luffy woke up gasping for air, clawing at the collar on his neck, then he realized…it wasn't beeping? Why? It's supposed to do that if you even try to take it off…that-
He shook his head and hesitantly pulled on it, and pop! It fell off, Luffy startled at this, it's off?
He stared at the collar that was now on his lap, he reached his hand to his neck and flinched when he touched it, then he rubbed it a bit and winced, ok ouch, that hurt, but his lips twitched upward slightly, he knew what he had to do now.
“Ace…please wait for me, I'll be there soon.” he whispered under his breath.
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Luffy had waited for what felt like hours, which it probably had, then a guard showed up, and Luffy barely glanced over, just looking at the guard's legs out of the corner of his eye
“A5158, you're going to fight again”
Guess my master really does want me dead, but that doesn't matter, this is a perfect opportunity, Luffy stood up, nodding slowly, his arms in front with the heavy chains, he had put the collar back on for now until he got the chains off.
Luffy stepped out of the cell, his heart hammered in his chest, he was going to do it, he was going to leave, he only has one chance, he can't mess this up.
He followed the guard that was in front of him, and before he turned the corner to the arena, Luffy used his chains wrapping them around the guards neck and pinned him to the ground, sitting on him, as he pushed his head down more using his foot, as he pulled up on the chains.
The only thing the guard had gotten out was a choked yelp, before being silenced by the choking, then Luffy heard a snap, and the guard went limp, he grabbed the keys, undoing the chains, it wasn't the same key the cuffs needed, but at least he could move his arms and legs freely, without restriction.
Luffy stood up quickly discarding the key, and then ran, he ran and ran, until he saw a door, there was light peaking through, Luffy picked up the pace, taking off the dud collar, and throwing it to the side. He pushed the door open and before he even knew it he had jumped, he was falling.
The fresh air hit his face, he closed his eyes taking in the smell of the salt, and the crispy cool air, the sun was warm on his cold skin, he couldn't help the smile on his face as he opened his eyes, he could see the vast ocean, the endless sky of blue, after a brief moment of taking it all in, Luffy looked down, there was an island close, it was filled with trees and what look to be bubbles?
“Can't hit the water” he looked back at the Red Line behind him as he fell, he took a moment before reaching out, biting down on his worn shirt, before clawing his hand into the wall, and letting out a muffled screamed, biting down on the shirt harder, and then he used his other hand to do the same, they bleed as he slid down, but he was eventually able to slow himself before coming to a complete stop. He breathed heavily, as he released his shirt from his mouth, looking down again.
I just need to climb over a little more. That's all then I'll be free, free that's a word he hasn't thought about in a while
He moved, it was painful, his bare, raw skin against the rocks, blood seeped from the wounds, old and new ones, he moved, and moved until finally letting himself drop, it was still quite a long drop but he landed on land, hitting a few trees on his way down, as he stood, he coughed wiping the blood onto his tattered clothes.
Looking around he could see the bubbles up close. They were bigger than he thought, he looked at the Red Line once more before moving. I need to hide, or at least disguise myself somehow, he needed to hide the cuffs or people would know he was a slave, and that could possibly lead to getting taken back, he shivered at the thought, shaking his head before running again.
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