Chapter Text
The days following the attack were chaotic, to say the least.
The Revolutionary ships had split apart almost immediately after the escape to ensure none of them could be directly tracked by the World Government. False routes were created, bases abandoned, and contacts cut off as a precaution.
And even then... The tension remained suffocating.
Ginny had stopped in Sabaody with a small team to gather more supplies and simply vanished shortly afterward.
No trace found.
Nothing.
It was slowly destroying Kuma and Ivankov from the inside out.
Even if neither of them said it out loud.
Especially Kuma.
Wani could still remember the heavy silence surrounding him during the last few days at sea, standing there staring at the horizon for hours as if he expected Ginny to simply reappear from it.
The small boat finally reached a simple, quiet island in the East Blue.
Dawn.
Luffy slept against her while Wani silently watched the shoreline. Small houses scattered near the coast, the scent of damp forest carried by the wind, and an absurdly peaceful sea.
Almost irritatingly calm.
Dragon stopped beside her on the deck.
"We're close to the village."
Wani cast a long glance toward the island before answering.
"So this is the famous island where the world's most dangerous man grew up."
"It's less impressive than it sounds."
"I disagree." She watched a few fishermen in the distance. "You clearly learned your terrible habit of working yourself to death here."
Dragon ignored that with the experience of a husband who had heard far worse.
"I still have a house near the forest. It's far enough from the village, and almost nobody goes there."
Wani remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she sighed slowly.
She understood.
Unfortunately, she understood perfectly.
After the attack, after the spy, after Luffy nearly died... There was no longer any safe way to keep the boy within the Revolution.
Even if it hurt.
"I know this is necessary." Her voice came out softer as she adjusted the sleeping child in her arms. "And I'll do anything to protect our little sunflower..." Her golden eyes slowly moved toward Dragon. "But pretending to be a single mother looking for peace..." She made a genuinely offended expression. "Just thinking about it gives me chills."
Dragon very clearly tried not to smile.
He failed miserably.
"Mon trésor..."
"No." She looked at him. "You don't understand the magnitude of the humiliation you're asking from me."
"You'll survive."
"I'm the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, an important figure in the underworld, a Logia user, and literally an ancient desert deity." Wani crossed her arms. "And now I'm supposed to pretend my biggest concern is buying fresh bread in the morning? This is my worst nightmare and my father's dream."
Dragon finally let out a quiet laugh through his nose.
"You'll survive, Mon trésor..."
Then he leaned down slightly to kiss his wife before beginning to prepare the boat to dock at the island's small harbor.
It was still too early for there to be much movement there. The sky was slowly brightening into soft shades of gold and blue while the morning mist covered part of Dawn's coast.
Peaceful.
Silent.
Dragon's dark eyes then discreetly stopped on her bandaged wrist.
His expression changed almost imperceptibly.
Guilt again.
It was still there.
"I asked an old friend for a favor." He commented calmly while securing the boat. "A prosthetic. It should arrive within a few months at most."
Wani blinked slowly before looking down at her own arm.
Sometimes she still tried moving a hand that no longer existed.
"Well..." She sighed while watching Luffy sleep peacefully in her lap. "It would be useful having two hands to take care of our little hurricane."
The island's soft breeze passed through her hair at that moment.
Now short.
Dragon watched her for a few seconds before calmly asking.
"Did you really cut your own hair because you got annoyed yesterday?"
"I couldn't tie it properly and got irritated." Wani answered as if that were completely reasonable. "At least I asked Inazuma to cut it for me." Her golden eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at her husband. "Does it look bad?"
Dragon studied her for a few more seconds.
"No." The answer came simply. "It suits you."
Wani arched an eyebrow.
"You always complained about long hair." He continued while picking up their few bags. "Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't cut it sooner."
"I was too lazy."
"Now you look even more dangerous."
"Excellent."
Dragon let out a low laugh before stepping off the boat.
Wani followed shortly after, Luffy still deeply asleep against her chest, secured there by wide strips of cloth. The child was so used to sleeping like that he practically melted against her without a single fear in the world.
The wooden planks of the small harbor creaked beneath their footsteps while the sun slowly began rising over Dawn.
A new life.
A comfortable lie.
A desperate attempt at normalcy.
Dragon walked silently for a few minutes before finally speaking again:
"You know I won't be able to visit often, right?"
Wani felt the weight of those words immediately.
Because she knew.
He couldn't appear there constantly.
Couldn't create patterns.
Couldn't give the Government or the Marines any reason to investigate a forgotten island in the East Blue.
Any attention directed toward Dawn now was dangerous.
"I know, Azizi..." Her voice softened this time as she adjusted the sleeping Luffy against her chest. "We'll be fine."
Dragon looked away for a moment.
Guilt again.
Always guilt.
Wani hated that.
Because she knew exactly what was going through his mind.
He felt like he was abandoning them.
Even while rationally knowing this was the safest way to protect them.
The little boy sighed softly in his sleep at that moment, completely unaware of the weight of that conversation.
Dragon watched his son for several long seconds before admitting quietly:
"...I'll have to tell my father you're here."
Wani immediately turned toward him.
That honestly caught her by surprise.
Dragon rarely talked about his family.
"Living here is one thing..." He continued calmly. "But hiding your existence from him would be worse... He lives on this island." Dragon sighed quietly. "Though he doesn't show up often."
Wani stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then slowly narrowed her eyes.
"...You're telling me the Hero of the Marines lives here?"
"Technically, yes."
She let out a heavy sigh while running a hand through her short hair.
"Your father is literally the man who hunts criminals all over the world."
"He's also my father."
"Azizi, I'm a criminal."
"And my wife." Dragon looked directly into her golden eyes before continuing. "And honestly?" A small tired smile appeared on his face. "He won't let anything happen to his grandson."
Wani held his gaze for a few moments before finally sighing.
"Alright... I'll trust you like always." Her voice came out softer this time. "Now let's go already. I want to see my new house, and you need to get back to base." She adjusted Luffy against her chest again. "Kuma and Iva are probably losing their minds already, and you still need to find Ginny."
Dragon's face immediately grew heavier at the mention of her name.
Because yes.
They needed to find her.
And fast.
Wani missed her too more than she wanted to admit. Ginny had become one of the few people who truly bulldozed through all her defenses without fear.
An unbelievably irritating woman.
And impossible not to love.
The path to the house was surrounded by forest and the smell of rain-soaked earth. Dawn was beautiful in a simple, almost wild way, very different from the luxurious and violent islands of the Grand Line.
Wani still hadn't decided whether she liked that.
When they finally arrived, she stopped for a moment to observe the house.
Spacious.
Silent.
Light wood, large windows, and a simple porch wrapping around part of the structure. Behind the house, she could see a small abandoned garden and tall trees swaying with the mountain breeze.
It looked... Far too domestic.
Dragon entered first carrying the bags while Wani observed the place with absurd caution, as though the house might attack her at any moment.
"There are three bedrooms." Dragon explained calmly while setting the bags near the entrance. "And the structure's still good. It just needs some cleaning."
Wani slowly scanned the room.
Dust.
Old furniture.
The faint smell of wood.
She really was going to become a housewife.
How horrifying.
Luffy finally started waking against her chest at that moment, opening his eyes slowly before curiously looking around.
"House..."
"Yes." Wani answered softly. "Our new home."
The little boy immediately looked excited.
Dragon watched the two of them for a moment before speaking again.
"I need to warn you about something." He discreetly pointed toward the forest beyond the windows. "The mountain is dangerous for Luffy."
Wani immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Continue."
"Don't let him go into the forest alone." Dragon sighed. "The animals here are bigger than they look..."
A brief pause.
"...And there are bandits living at the top of the mountain."
Silence.
Wani slowly turned toward him.
"Wonderful." A small dangerous smile appeared on her lips. "Well, if they decide to show up around here, I'd love to have some fun."
Dragon immediately sighed.
"Mon trésor... You know it's better not to show your powers to anyone." His voice became more serious now. "Even on a small island like this, gossip spreads fast." His dark eyes stopped briefly on her bandaged arm before continuing. "If that reaches Marine ears... If they hear about someone using sand here..."
"I know, I know..." Wani rolled her eyes before finally releasing Luffy from the cloth wraps against her chest. "I can take care of myself, Azizi."
The child immediately ran through the house as if he'd just conquered an entire kingdom.
Dragon watched silently.
That heavy look.
Distant.
Wani noticed immediately.
Of course she did.
She crossed the room without a word before wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her face against her husband's chest.
"Azizi..." Her voice softened. "We're going to be okay, alright?"
Dragon closed his eyes for a moment when he felt her there.
Home.
Family.
The only things capable of undoing him like that.
"I know you'll visit whenever you can." She continued quietly. "So stop making that face."
A small tired laugh escaped him.
"What face?"
"The face of a dramatically lovesick man suffering in silence."
"You exaggerate."
"Not even a little."
Then she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him.
Slowly.
Tenderly.
With that quiet intimacy built across two entire lifetimes.
Dragon immediately held her waist, deepening the kiss for a few seconds before resting his forehead against hers.
And in that moment, neither of them wanted to let go.
But they had to.
They always had to.
.
A few weeks later...
Wani was, against every possible expectation, slowly beginning to adapt to her new life.
Not that she would ever admit it out loud.
She still hated Dawn.
Still hated the exaggerated peace of that island.
And most of all...
She hated the pitying looks.
Because apparently, to the villagers, she was just some poor young woman raising her child alone while her husband was absent.
Absolutely humiliating.
She had already received free groceries several times.
One elderly woman tried teaching her how to sew.
Another asked if she needed help “with heavy things” while staring directly at her missing arm.
Wani almost committed crimes.
But Luffy...
Luffy loved all of it.
The little boy ran through the new house like a hurricane made of pure energy, befriended literally anyone who smiled at him for more than three seconds, and spent most of his time trying to escape into the forest.
He also asked about Dragon sometimes.
“Papa come back soon?”
Always with those huge eyes.
And that hurt Wani more than she wanted to admit.
“Your Papa is working, sunflower.” She would answer while cooking or organizing the house. “But he’ll come back as soon as he can.”
And Luffy believed her immediately.
Because the child still had that absolute childish faith in his parents.
Wani would honestly kill the entire world before letting anyone destroy that.
She had already taken Luffy to the village a few times as well.
They needed food.
Clothes.
A normal routine.
The village mayor, however... That man definitely didn’t trust her.
Which honestly?
Comforted Wani.
Because it meant at least someone on that island had functioning survival instincts. She could feel his suspicious glances every time she appeared holding Luffy’s hand while the little boy excitedly pointed at everything he saw.
“Who is she again?”
“They said she’s related to Vice Admiral Garp...”
“Strange...”
Wani pretended not to hear.
But she heard everything.
When they finally asked directly who she was, she simply answered with absurd calmness.
“Luffy is Garp’s grandson. He’ll probably show up eventually to confirm it himself.”
That silenced half the village instantly.
.
Now, it had already been almost four months since they arrived when a loud knock echoed through the house.
Wani immediately looked up.
Her Observation Haki had already identified the presence behind the door before the second knock even came.
She let out a low sigh before opening it.
And came face to face with Garp.
The Vice Admiral wore the typical closed Marine uniform, white coat draped over his shoulders, and that absurdly carefree expression on his face, as if he wasn’t one of the most dangerous men in the world.
“My useless son warned me about you.” Garp commented while crossing his arms. “But honestly, I didn’t think that brat was serious...”
“Finally came to meet your grandson?” Wani answered dryly while stepping aside to let him in.
Garp entered the house without a shred of ceremony.
Luffy was happily playing on the living room floor surrounded by the giant beetle toys he adored so much. The little boy was making dramatic voices for the wooden creatures while completely immersed in his own game.
“Luffy.” Wani called. “Come here.”
The boy immediately lifted his head.
Dark eyes met the gigantic figure standing in the room.
Luffy dropped the toys and ran toward her.
But not in the way Wani expected.
The child clung tightly to her leg, partially hiding his face while staring at Garp in complete silence.
Wani blinked slowly, confused.
Because Luffy had never been shy around strangers.
Garp, meanwhile, looked enchanted.
His eyes observed the boy with something almost nostalgic shining in them.
Because the child truly looked like Dragon as a kid.
The same curious stare, the same messy hair, the same intense presence despite being so small.
Garp’s heart practically exploded in his chest.
Finally.
A grandson.
A grandson he could spoil, train, and turn into a great Marine.
“BWAHAHAHA!” Garp crouched down closer to his height. “So you’re my grandson?! You’re already this big!” A massive grin spread across his face. “You’re gonna become a fine Marine!”
Wani immediately opened her mouth, ready to say that would never happen.
But then Luffy clung even tighter to her leg.
The little body started trembling.
His eyes filling with tears so quickly Wani’s heart sank instantly.
“No!!” The childish voice came out desperate. “Marines hurt Mama!”
Silence.
Garp’s smile vanished immediately.
Oh.
Wani had forgotten.
Forgotten that Luffy saw the base being destroyed.
That he saw Revolutionaries dying.
That he saw Marines attacking people he loved.
That he saw blood.
Explosions.
Chaos.
And worse... He saw a Marine rip her hand off right in front of him.
The little boy hid his face behind her leg now, genuinely terrified.
Wani slowly placed her remaining hand on his hair, stroking gently.
“Sunflower...” Her voice came out much softer now. “It’s alright...”
But Luffy shook his head rapidly.
“No! Bad Marine! Gonna hurt Mama!”
Something heavy fell over the room.
Garp didn’t seem to know what to say.
The man stood there staring at his grandson in absolute silence.
Then his eyes slowly lowered to Wani’s amputated hand.
“...” The Vice Admiral stayed quiet for a few seconds before finally speaking more quietly. “Was it during the attack?”
Wani held his gaze.
Then nodded slowly.
“That’s why we came here... I don’t know how much Dragon told you, but Luffy was present during the attack...” She picked the child up, the boy still clinging to her while eyeing Garp distrustfully. “Maybe it’s better if you come back here without the uniform.”
“Bad Marine!”
“Luffy...” Wani gently stroked his hair until he finally stopped trembling. “That’s your grandfather, habibi. He’s your Papa’s father. He’s not going to hurt you.”
Garp stayed silent for a few seconds before slowly removing the Marine coat and leaving it over a nearby chair.
The old man let out a long sigh through his nose.
Because yes... He still wanted to turn that boy into a Marine.
Wanted to see his grandson running around Navy ships the way Dragon used to when he was little. Wanted to teach him how to fight, train his Haki, watch the boy grow strong beside him.
That way he could protect him.
Keep him safe.
But looking at that child clinging to his mother out of fear of the uniform he wore...
Garp couldn’t ignore reality.
The Marines had already left a scar on that boy.
And as he grew older, he would probably follow his parents’ path.
Revolution ran through that family’s blood like a hereditary disease.
Wani finally placed Luffy back on the floor.
And this time, the little boy hesitated only a few seconds before walking toward Garp on his own.
That surprised the old man immediately.
Luffy stopped right in front of him, crossed his tiny arms trying to look threatening, and declared with all the courage in the world.
“Mean Marines! Stupid old man!”
Garp froze for a second before grinning.
“YOU DISRESPECTFUL BRAT!”
DONK.
The famous Fist of Love hit the top of Luffy’s head.
Not truly hard.
But hard enough to make the little boy fall onto the floor while a bump slowly started forming on his head.
Silence.
Then Wani’s vision instantly turned red.
“GARP YOU BASTARD!” Sand exploded around her on pure reflex, swirling through the room like a living storm. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”
Garp pointed indignantly at the child on the floor.
“HE CALLED ME AN IDIOT! He’s gotta learn to respect his elders!”
“HE’S TWO YEARS OLD!”
“AND HE’S ALREADY INSULTING A VICE ADMIRAL!”
“I’M GOING TO BURY YOU IN THIS MOUNTAIN!”
The pressure began crushing the entire room.
The windows trembled, the wood creaked and the air turned heavy.
Garp widened his eyes slightly as he felt it.
Because for one single second...
That woman’s presence stopped feeling human.
And Monkey D. Garp had fought enough monsters across the seas to recognize when he was standing before something ancient.
Very ancient.
“Ah, I used to give Dragon Fists of Love all the time and he turned out completely fine!”
“FINE?!” Wani practically snarled the word. “Dragon told me about the training you put him through!”
Quick flashes immediately crossed her mind.
Dragon mentioning surviving alone in forests at an absurdly young age. Garp throwing him into dangerous situations “to make the boy stronger.”
That completely insane parenting philosophy.
Her golden eyes turned icy.
“If you so much as think about doing that to my son...” Her voice lowered dangerously. “I don’t care about the consequences. You’ll pay for it, Garp.”
“BWAHAHAHAHA!”
Garp burst into laughter.
Absolutely fearless in the face of her very serious threat.
“Now I understand why that brat Dragon fell for you!” The old man crossed his arms while still laughing loudly. “Funny...” His eyes narrowed slightly while observing her face more carefully. “You remind me of someone...”
Wani immediately looked away.
Damn it.
She had really hoped Garp wouldn’t connect the dots.
Because if that old man discovered exactly who her father was... Her headache would increase tenfold.
Especially considering the complicated history between Garp and Whitebeard.
Luffy was still sitting on the floor holding his head.
His wide eyes processing the entire situation.
Then slowly the little boy’s lips trembled into a pout.
Wani completely abandoned the argument instantly and rushed toward him.
“Oh no, sunflower...” She carefully picked him up. “Let me see...”
The bump was enormous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Wani slowly turned toward Garp with a murderous expression.
“What?!” The old man answered defensively. “I barely hit him! He’s a Monkey, surviving is a natural skill!”
Luffy sniffled softly before accusingly pointing at him.
“...Mean old man.”
Then Wani took a deep breath.
“Don’t worry.” She said with terrifying calmness. “The mean old man is already leaving.”
The sand immediately slid across the floor before forcefully opening the front door hard enough to make Garp raise his eyebrows.
“You can leave.”
“Eh?!”
“You only get to see your grandson without the Marine uniform.” Her golden eyes gleamed dangerously. “And under my supervision.”
Garp crossed his arms.
“You’re pretty bossy.”
“And you hit my child.”
“Fist of Love!”
“You almost gave my baby brain damage!”
“He’s alive!”
Luffy, still in her arms, looked between the two with complete focus. Then very seriously declared.
“Mama angry.”
“Yes.” Wani answered immediately without taking her eyes off Garp. “Very.”
Garp let out another booming laugh.
“Dragon really picked someone just like him!”
“Was that an insult?”
“It was a compliment!”
The old man slowly walked toward the door still laughing to himself.
But before leaving, he stopped.
Dark eyes looked at Luffy once more.
And this time there was something quieter there.
Heavier.
“...I didn’t know.” Garp admitted at last. “About the boy seeing all of that.”
Wani stayed silent.
Because honestly, she believed him.
Dragon probably told him as little as possible specifically to avoid this exact situation.
Garp let out a low sigh before continuing:
“Next time...” The old man scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “...I’ll bring meat.”
Luffy blinked slowly.
“...Meat?”
Traitor.
Wani slowly closed her eyes, feeling her patience leave her body.
“Luffy.” She began with all possible seriousness, “not everyone who gives you meat is your friend. You can’t sell yourself that easily.”
“Meat!” The little boy repeated immediately, now fully excited.
Garp’s grin widened enormously.
“That’s my grandson!”
“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.”
The sand slid through the room immediately before the door slammed in the Vice Admiral’s face hard enough to shake the wall.
Outside, Garp’s laughter still echoed down the mountain.
“BWAHAHAHAHA!”
Wani took a deep breath.
Then slowly looked down at the child in her arms.
Luffy was still staring at the closed door with shining eyes.
“...Meat.”
“You inherited the worst parts of your father.”
“Mama...” The little boy tilted his head slightly. “Is he good?”
That made her chest tighten unexpectedly, because Luffy asked with absolute sincerity.
Wani let out a quiet sigh before finally walking to the couch and sitting down with him in her lap. She took a few seconds before answering.
Because she didn’t want to lie.
But she also didn’t want Garp to become a monster in that child’s mind.
Especially because he would probably be the only grandfather present in Luffy’s life for a very long time.
“He...” Wani started slowly while fixing the boy’s messy hair. “...Tries his best.”
Luffy listened attentively.
“Your grandfather is strange.” She continued honestly. “Very strange.” A short pause. “And extremely irritating.”
“Stupid old man.”
“Yes.” Wani agreed immediately. “Very.”
Luffy seemed satisfied with the confirmation.
Then she carefully held his little face with her remaining hand, golden eyes turning more serious.
“But listen to me, my sunflower.” Her voice softened. “You should never accept physical aggression from others, understood?”
Luffy blinked.
“If someone hurts you...” She continued more quietly. “Or hits you when I’m not around... You come tell me.”
The little boy watched her for a few seconds before slowly nodding.
“Tell Mama.”
“That’s right.” Wani kissed his forehead, far away from the giant bump. “Because nobody has the right to hurt you.”
Not even people who love you.
The memories of what Dragon had told her about his childhood crossed her mind once again.
The absurd training, Garp’s brutal way of showing affection. The constant normalization of violence.
Wani hated it deeply.
She would never allow Luffy to grow up believing pain was proof of love.
Luffy then raised his tiny arms toward her face.
“Mama angry...”
Wani blinked before letting out a soft laugh through her nose.
“...Not anymore.”
The little boy smiled immediately.
Then threw himself against her in a clumsy childlike hug.
That healed every broken part of her far faster than she would ever admit out loud.