Sabo checks his coordinates one last time. It was due to their information team that they were able to track down the target, sending the coordinates to Sabo as he was the closest to the area and get there in time before the target moved on.
He checks the Log post and the map about a dozen times but the coordinates match each time. Which can only mean one thing: They aren’t wrong but he can’t help but wonder what a pirate on Fire Fist’s level could possibly be doing in a place like this.
Orders are orders, however, and he didn’t join a revolution to simply stand there and stare. Tugging his hat down to better hide his eyes, Sabo, squares his shoulders and steps on the street.
He can feel the stares of the people, prickling the back of his neck. It’s highly unlikely new faces show up here often. He desperately wants to blend into the shadows but it would most likely be seen as a threat if he attempted to.
After all, the pirate crew has known of him the moment his ship sailed into their waters if not he would eat his own prized top hat. The feeling of being watched had started then, after all and hasn’t gone away since.
“Hello handsome,” A honey-dipped voice said to his right forcing the spy to stop. He turns to find a woman, wearing a very alluring red dress hidden about what needs to be hidden but only just.
She gives him a crooked smile that might have been friendly if Sabo couldn’t spot the cheery mischevious curve of around her lips and the predatory gleam in her eyes. “Lost? I could help show you around.”
Seeing her hand move towards his arm, Sabo takes a step back allowing to past in the air. “Thank you for the offer, but I am fine.”
She pouts “Are you sure? I know the best places to find some fun.”
“I am quite sure. Thank you for your offer.” The last sentence is a dismissal, they both know it. She dips her head, odd smile still on her face before she turns and disappears into the crowd almost as well as he would have. Hmm, if all the people here are like her maybe it would make sense that a pirate would be lingering in these parts.
Perhaps this was a Red Light District, only appearing like it does to stay hidden? Sabo would have to be extra careful. People don’t hide in plain sight unless it was for a very bad reason. He turns on his heels, walking a bit faster. Not enough to grab everyone’s attention and single him out- well more than before- but to arrive and make the deal as quickly as possible.
It takes longer then Sabo likes but he finally arrives at where the information claims Fire Fist will be. The metal gates loom over him, as he gently pushes them open, hoping that a polite entrance will be better received then sneaking in. Dragon had all but beaten the notion that they needed this deal to go through with the Whitebeards and he isn’t about to fail the mission objective.
The crunching of the tiny decorative rocks under his boats echo as Sabo walks up the gravel path. He can hear some voices, but they are muffled by the thick wooden doors to be able to tell what they are saying. He knocks on the door politely and loudly, retreating his arm to hold onto his wrist in front of his body making sure to relax his muscles into a proper stance.
He wants to look as harmless as possible as he waits for someone to open the door. Sabo takes those few minutes to wonder what this manor-like building is a front for.
After all, if this really is a Red Light District with prostitutes walking in broad daylight as the woman before proved then the words engraved on top of the gate couldn’t be true. Maybe the Whitebeards were attmepting to hide large numbers of people this way? But for what?
The door is cracked open by the very man he came here to find.
“Hello. Can I help you? ” Fire Fist Ace asks a friendly smile on his face. Sabo is momently thrown by his polite tone but he recovers quickly.
“Hello. I am here to assist you with the task at hand.” He waits to see if First Fist recognized the code. The meeting was made at the last second, the information team scrambling to keep track of where the man had been moving through and not really able to make the codes better, but hopefully, they were able to get word to Whitebeard in time. The pirate captain would pass along the message to his commander quickly once he did.
Silver eyes light as the second commander opens the door wider, gesturing for Sabo to enter “Oh yes! Come in, come in! I’m so grateful you came!”
Sabo has never had a pirate so excited to make a deal with the Revolutionary Army before. He’s mildly on guard as he bypassed the man into a large living room area, complete with couches and varies sized bean bags scattered about.
The pirate closes the door behind him. “What’s your level of experience?”
Sabo slaps on a diplomatic smile despite the question pissing him off a tad bit. “ I can assure you I am very well trained. Been working in this line of work for years.”
“Can you handle any age?”
What? He isn’t sure what the pirate means by that but he can’t seem inadequate in any way, even when speaking in code. The army needed this deal much more than the pirates. So he fibs. “Of course.”
Fire fist looks overly pleased. He motions for the revolutionary to follow him and together they walk towards some doors “Fantastic! I need to feed the younger ones, but the older kids wanted to play outside. Can you handle that for me? I’m Portgas D Ace by the way. I apologize for not mentioning that sooner.”
Again Sabo is thrown by the politeness, repeating the bow out of habit more than anything else. Is it odd to think that Portgas was a lot better in person then rumors claim him to be? He’s never meet a politer pirate before. “You may call me Teal. It’s a pleasure.”
Pausing, Sabo guesses the previous bit was code for something. Thinking about the deal he takes a gander on what he should respond with. “I prefer the younger ones if you don’t mind.”
Portgas smiles wide, eyes for some reason soft. “You like babies?”
“Sounds perfect to me. I’ll take the older ones outside. We are going to play hide and seek with water balloons so it will be a while before we come in for lunch. Don’t be afraid to yell for me from the window. I know Buba said you know where everything is but I’m here in case you need help”
Sabo has about a solid second to wonder what that even means before a herd of tiny people burst out a room, shrilling voices all announcing that they got their shoes on. He can tell they vary in ages, some as young as three while others just about ten or so.
They are all talking at once, some having spotted Sabo and others who are more interested in their conversation. Portgas kinda looks like a preening papa bear before clapping his hands in rhythm. The children all repeat the rhythm until the room is quite.
“Alright, you guys. This is Teal, he’s going to be helping today. Say hi.” Portgas presents him to the multiple curious eyes staring up at him. Sabo almost blanches as varies voices scream hi at him cause what? Why are there children here? What about the deal meeting? “Remeber the rules. No snitching hiding spots, no leaving the backyard fence, no face or groin shots and teams can only be formed if you're younger then five. Everyone ready?”
“YEAH!” the kids scream, causing Sabo’s ears to ring. He shifts a wince as Portgas laughs. “Okay let’s go. Water balloon buckets are outside. I’ll show Teal where to go and be right there. Joe should be outside already too, let him know he’s it”
The kids aren’t told twice rushing around a corner of the room and down a hallway. Portgas watches them go with a fond smile. “Don’t you just love their energy?”
No. In fact, Sabo kinda hates being near children. He can deal with them if he needs to but he goes out of his way to avoid it when he can. Instead of an answer, he tries to get them down to business so he can leave. “You said something about showing me somewhere?”
“Right. This way” He opens a soft green color room, the one that happens to be closest to them. Portgas presents it with the same level of preening as before and a soft “Here you are!”
Inside Sabo sees something worst then a herd of children.
He sees a nursery and a bunch of tinier beings in cribs. There are three toddlers who are sitting and playing with blocks in a baby pin and they make grabbing hands at them the moment they spot Portgas. Oh gods.
There is also a female teenager sitting in a chair, feeding a baby a bottle that smiles at them. “Hey, Commander Ace. Who’s your friend?” she asks.
“This is Teal. Buba is going on medical leave starting today but she swore that he was trustworthy. He’s helping in the green room while Joe and I handle things outside.” Portgas explains, picking up a fussing baby and rocking him like it’s second nature. He turns to Sabo and in that moment the blond knows he’s going to have to hold him.
He blanches but it’s too late because Portgas dumps him into Sabo’s arms and he scrambles to copy the hold Portgas had on him. The baby wiggles about wildly making grumpy noises and face scrunching up.
Sabo panics thinking he’s about to cry but he can hear Portgas ignoring his distress as he continues speaking. “Teal, her name is Lilly, this is her last here but she can help with the younger ones feeding.”
“It’s nice to meet you Teal,” Lilly says smiling warmly. “Thanks for helping. We are a bit short-handed. If it wasn’t for the commander heaven knows the kids would run us into the ground”
Wait does that mean the gate wasn’t lying? This place really was what it said it was?
“T-this is an actual whitebeard orphanage?” Sabo asks dazed and Portgas laughs. Lilly looks just as amused. Around them, babies make random noises like they are attempting to speak. Or they want to be held too. Oh, gods.
“Of course! What did you think Buba meant by child caregiver? Well have fun, I got to get outside before those kids kill Joe.” And no, no, no, Portgas is climbing out a window and Sabo is still holding a baby. Please come back, and take the baby away!
Sabo just wanted to have the Whitebeards hide some slaves on their island he did not sign up for this! Just then the baby in his hands fills up his dipper and starts balling as the smell travels into the room.
“Oh my.” Lilly says standing. “Sorry, Teal. Little Eddie has been sick for a while with diarrhea, poor dear. Would you mind changing him well I make more bottles?”
There were moments where Sabo hated himself for ever thinking a spy was a fin job. This was one of them.
