In Their Place
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Summary: -they had each other. That was Portgas D. Rouge's only solace as she took her last breath. OC.
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Chapter 1: The First Step
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"Maybe nothing in this world happens by accident. As everything happens for a reason, our destiny slowly takes form."
- Silvers Rayleigh
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As the waves rolled by, crashing into the boat's hull, Monkey D. Garp was in conflict with himself. It was a common occurrence, really, for him to battle with the different ideals that was pushed into his mind, because the Marines had their own thoughts about how the world worked.
Among these thoughts were unspoken laws that seemed right.
Seemed, because Garp knew otherwise. One of these laws even began to spread throughout the civilian population, implanted in their minds, it was no different from brainwashing.
The Pirates were evil, and the Marines were righteous.
He was ashamed to admit that he fell for it years ago, his mind already imagining what could happen once he became a marine, the grandeur that would surround him, the justice that he could- would- bring. All of it was shattered the very moment he boarded a marine ship.
Tightening his fist, Garp could only wonder why Roger entrusted it to him of all people, the child that he was supposed to have. He knew why, but the question was, why would he trust him?
He could very well throw his child out to the sea, report it to Sengoku, or end it all the moment he laid his eyes on the strawberry-blonde woman.
Why?
Garp didn't even trust himself with his own child!
"You're like a part of my crew already."
He didn't, and he most probably never will, understand what was going through the Pirate King's mind. Just that, when the man he chased for years uttered those very words, warmth enveloped his heart, instead of the disgust that he expected.
(And, maybe, if he didn't fall for the propaganda of the Marines, maybe, just maybe, he would have been sailing the seas on board the Oro Jackson.)
Garp knew, in the depths of his mind, the very second that the word 'child' came from Roger's lips, along with 'my' and 'protect', and not necessarily in that order, he would protect the best he can.
Not only one of his child, but both of them. It seems that neither parents expected twins of all things, no matter, Garp would always do his job.
He took a deep breath and laughed. "BWAHAHAHAHA, Looks like you were still in store for some surprises, Roger! A shame that you couldn't live through it."
If Garp noticed the waterfall of tears that ran down his cheeks, the way his heart tightened once he spoke those words, and a stabbing sensation that spread throughout his body-
-he ignored. It was the only thing he could do.
"WAAAAAAAAAA!"
And that was his cue to go inside the cabin.
As far as Garp was concerned, the two tykes didn't look anything like Roger, and that was a good thing. It meant that the Marines needed to figure out who was the mother first, then draw out conclusions from there.
Wiping his face with his sleeves, Garp opened the door to the cabin, where one crib stood in a corner. In it lay, the children of the Pirate King.
He would admit that he didn't expect for twins to be born, it was the farthest thought from his mind, even Roger didn't expect it. But the two small figures, one tinier than the other, proved that they should expect the unexpected. Though Garp didn't particularly mind the surprise, he knew that hiding them would be much harder than usual.
This was where Garp was glad that they didn't look quite alike. Their different coloring could throw anyone off.
Sure, maybe they had the same face structure and nose, but it all ended there. They were fraternal twins after all.
One boy, and one girl.
The older twin, Ace, Garp reminded himself, had a tuft of black hair. He was all wrinkly due to his recent birth, but his sister was too. Noir, the younger twin, had a tuft of blonde hair, and was smaller and pinker than her brother.
It didn't really take a while to guess who took after who in terms of appearance, and Garp could admit that in the short hours that they've been together, he's grown rather fond of them.
Now, if he just remembered why he went in the cabin, everything would be relatively fine. He was the only one, excluding the twins, who was on board. It never hurt to be cautious, and Garp couldn't risk letting the children meet unknown people, especially Marines.
Even if they were his subordinates.
That was how Garp's first trip with the children of the Pirate King went.
A boat, a clueless adult, two newborn babies, and the sea.
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I do not own One Piece.