Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one

This is set in a universe where ASL is being raised on the Moby Dick. I am not going to go into details about how it happened because I don't feel it is important to the story. Just pick your favorite ASL story and assume that is how they got there. This story is about something else. Humanity.

Portgas D. Ace

Ace looked up surprised as Marco entered the room, closing the door silently behind himself.

"We need to talk."

Frantically the youngster searched his mind about what could have put such a serious expression on the powerful pirate's face. Thatch hadn't seemed that upset about the hair dye, just set them all to scrubbing potatoes. Had the crew changed their minds about letting them stay? Had something happened to his brothers? Before Ace could work himself into a full-fledged panic Marco spoke again.

"About Roger."

Ace went red, an all too familiar rage boiling up. "Don't speak to me about that . . ."

"No Ace," Marco cut him off with a gesture. "This time I am going to speak and you are going to listen." In his opinion Garp should have done something about this situation years ago. Should have never let this happen in the first place, but since he hadn't, it seemed it was up to him. "Don't get me wrong," the Phoenix said. "Roger and I had our differences." They had been on rival crews after all. "But he wasn't a demon, or a monster."

The pirate king's son opened his mouth to object only to freeze, pined in place by a pair of serious dark eyes. "All those people who say so, they would say the exact same thing about Pops."

The boy's eyes went wide. "But . . ."

"He was strong," Marco cut him off again, "and strong men make enemies. That doesn't mean he was less or more than human." He took a deep breath. "You, Gol D. Ace, deserve better than to believe garbage spouted by people who didn't know him and don't know you." After a moment, the pirate's face softened as he knelt down to ruffle Ace's hair. The kid really was too cute.

"I won't ask you not to hate him," the redhead said softly. "But if you decide you want to know who Roger really was, you know where to find me." Slowly, Marco rose and left the room, the door swinging back closed.

As for Ace, he didn't move for a long time. He had a lot to think about.

/

As may be obvious from the title, this fic is going to be made up of tales about Roger from the point of view of people who would have actually known him. It always bugged me that no one ever seemed to try and convince Ace that there was nothing wrong with him being born.