Figuring it Out [Whitebeard Pirates x Child? Reader]

7. Freezing

-February 10th
(Thought this was a good representation of what Luffy looked like when 'protesting' and when he Claimed M/n was his friend.   ~Author Guy)

It had been a week since any of the newgates had seen M/n. He wasn't in the junkyard when they'd look for him, and he wasn't on top of the buildings. No one had a clue where he went. So, Pops had half a mind to call Milo and see if he knew where M/n could have gone but no one wanted to worry him right after he finally got to see his family again. Luffy walked around town calling M/ns name, where had he gone? That was Luffy's top question... And Ace's... And Sabo's. The Entire ASL's first question. 

He was nowhere in town, they even asked the locals. No one had seen him since he left with Milo on the 3rd. Absolutely no one. They even asked the Owner of the Junkyard... Turned out he did know M/n was staying there, He just didn't feel like kicking a child out. Even the owner hadn't seen him. Pops and Lidia's suspicion's had come true. M/n probably had done something stupid. Luffy was getting more worried every day, Sabo was getting sort of panicky, and Ace, Ace was internally worrying, being the pillar his brothers needed for the time being...

___

M/n sat on the ground. Staring at the engraved rock. After his parents threw him out for the millionth time they admitted to tossing Toby's twin out as well... He later found her dying of the flu. Without any money, he couldn't help her... Just try and be there for her. She died about a month after he found her. So here he sat. In the middle of nowhere, Hours away from town... away from anybody really. He didn't want anyone disturbing her grave. He didn't want to go back yet, he didn't want to rob or steal, he just wanted peace. 

even if it meant being cold, He just wanted... Peace. The area he chose was stunning. he had shown milo this place once. After he told him about his past... M/n had done everything he could trying to save his little sister. Failing no matter how hard he tried. It made him mad. Letting himself fall onto his back he stared at the cloudy sky. watching as the white puffballs of condensed water rolled and overlapped each other. He enjoyed having time to himself, calming down. Preparing for the inevitable void of loneliness to consume him once again. He planned on staying out here just a bit longer...

___

Luffy looked out the window in his room, his brows furrowing. Another storm was going to hit. and it was going to hit badly. Pops had even nailed the garden beds down. Space heaters and extra blankets had been placed in every room. Luffy was hoping M/n didn't get caught up in it. Hoping he was safe back in his little hobbit hole. 

"Oi, Luffy, C'mon. He'll be fine, He's a tough kid..." Thatch tried to get Luffy away from the window

"I'm Tough too! Sabo's Tough! Ace is Too! But Pops said that this storm could seriously hurt someone!" Luffy made a very good point

"Luffy, We'll keep looking for him after the storm. For now, I'm going to need you to get away from the Windows..." Thatch gave Luffy a half-hearted smile

"Sorry to say Thatch but I'm with Luffy on this one. There's no way he'll make it. We have to find him before it hits."

" You don't think I feel the same way? Listen, I want to go out and find his stubborn ass as much as you guys but the storm is going to hit really soon. By the time we leave the house, it'll be just starting." Thatch reasoned, both boy's faces sunk. Knowing how bad it could be if they got caught in the storm

After that Luffy left the window going into Ace's room and hanging out with Ace, Sabo, and Haruta. All of them would take the occasional glance at the window. Then continue their game of Go Fish. It had somehow gone from Poker to Go fish. None of them knew when or how. It just did. Luffy continued to eat the Tangerines they had gotten from Bell-meres farm. he refused to eat any other tangerine. Ace smacked Luffy's hand away from the bowl, yelling at him to save some for the rest of them. Luffy only laughed grabbing another.

Pops and Lidia were cooped up in their own room taking a Nap... a Well deserved one at that. Now and again the windows would rattle because of the wind. Thatch was holed up in his room watching... No one wanted to know. Marco was reading a Book, letting Izou mess with his hair. Fossa was watching Tv in his own room. Namur was taking care of his Fish. Jozu was messing with some Rocks, Curiel was cleaning his guns. All in all, everyone was occupied. waiting out the storm, nice and warm. Even if some thoughts still lingered...

___

M/n walked down some road, every big fat snowflake smacking him in the face. Electricity surrounding him keeping him at least a little warm. He had stayed out much longer than he had originally intended. His nose was red and running, continuing down the road he knew sort of well. He wishes he would've actually paid attention to how dark the clouds had gotten. 

"This is bullshit" M/n mumbled to himself. Seeing the row of Trees stop for a second... Creating a space. M/n's eyes widened. Two little people appearing on his shoulder. His 'Milo' side as he called it, and Him.

"You should go! They'd help! You'd be actually warm!" 'Milo' Said with great reasoning

"You don't know them, Idiot! They'd just throw you out." 'He' Said with Spite

"No, They wouldn't. They've put up with your bad attitude for so long! Why would they do that if you're a waste!" 'Milo' had a Great point

"They're just faking it. Just to get on your good side then toss you out like some piece of trash." 'M/n' held a Venomous tone.

M/n shook his head, "Fuck it." He grumbled, He'd listen to Milo. Just, this once. Though he'd never tell Milo the 'angel' on his shoulder was him. It'd be embarrassing, Milo would either Gush about how cute it was or he'd just make fun of M/n. M/n sped up, jogging towards the gap. and Sure enough, it was exactly what he thought it was. The Mailbox confirmed it too.

'NEWGATE' Is what the mailbox reads. Each letter has A different handwriting. with random doodles all over the box. M/n took one step towards the house, He doubted they could see past their windows. His powers could only do so much, and because of the cold, he wasn't getting hurt so that was nice. But he was exhausted, He had been walked for a very long time before he had seen the gap in the trees. Jogging up to the front door he avoided the windows. Hesitant to knock on the front door. His toes were Red and a little blue. He was wishing he had some shoes but stuck true to his opinion on them.

He just stared at the door blankly... Would they even want to help him after he disappeared for a week? Maybe they had finally given up on him, if they had then he had just wasted his time. Every little thought ran through his head all at once, forcing himself to knock on the door. Hopefully loud enough for them to hear. His hood was falling leaving his hair and face to the Cold Elements. Shoving his hood back over his head he held it there with an Iron grip. 

He heard light shuffling from the inside of the home, and Confused murmurs of probably most of the family... He had knocked quite loudly. He heard the door unlock, creaking open. he kept his mouth pressed into a firm line, embarrassed by his actions, but also SUPER cold.

"...hi..." He mumbled wincing when a strong gust of wind hit him.

Marco stood there for a moment processing the person at the door before swinging it all of the way open and picking M/n up without consent. Confusing the hell out of the boy.

"Shit, you're freezing-yoi... Izou go get some blankets, Thatch go get the First aid kit!" Marco ordered people around. The commotion caused the two old people to stir and alerting the children. Their scrambled footsteps could be heard.

"Miho what's going on- Dear god he's blue!" Lidia looked at your shivering form

"Oi What's going on! Move Old Man!" Ace's voice could be heard, "M/n... Holy Fuck! How'd you make it here!" Ace took M/n from Marco, M/n winced when he felt the floor on his feet even if they felt numb

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOUR SHOES!?" Half of the family shouted, 

M/n stayed quiet, on the verge of passing out, the sparks around his BOdy faded as he lost consciousness...

His Hearing stopped and everything went black... Succumbing to his body's exhaustion...