Warning: Some are brotherly, some are romantic, and some are both. Sad themes are used, slight AU situations for certain parts, some spoilers (e.g: #19 is a slight AU and has spoilers for chapter 701).
Also, Sabo, because Sabo is the greatest.
Fragments
1. Introduction
They met and both sparks and spit flew, and that was hardly a proper introduction, but it would have to do. For now, at least.
2. Love
Luffy loved everything about Ace.
He loved that Ace would spar with him, how Ace would get him out of the water when he fell in, how Ace would give him piggyback rides. How Ace would let him sleep with him, scared or not. He loved every single thing about Ace.
His quirks and flaws alike, Luffy accepted him and loved him for who he was. Luffy didn't care who Ace's father was, because to him it couldn't matter less. In his eyes, Ace was perfect and, more importantly, his brother.
3. Light
He had long gathered that Luffy was like a light. Burning bright and never dimming, Ace was drawn into Luffy's light like an insect in a spider's web.
4. Dark
He had been in the dark for too long before meeting Luffy.
5. Seeking Solace
It was not unusual to see Luffy in Ace's bed instead of his own, with his face buried in Ace's chest, arms wrapped around his brother in a tight embrace, as if his brother would vanish in a second if he let go. Rare were the times when Ace came to Luffy, who didn't even need to see the shaken look in the other's eyes or the slight trembling in his frame before scooting over to make room for his brother.
6. Break Away
With Sabo and Luffy by his side, Ace truly felt that he could break away from the harsh reality that he had been born into.
7. Heaven
On quiet nights, with hands intertwined and the stars overhead, Ace wonders if Luffy was a gift from Heaven.
8. Innocence
"Ne, Ace?"
"Hm?"
"Why are those guys staring at that lady's butt chest?"
9. Drive
Fire coursed through his being as he charged forward, a battle cry ripping itself from his throat. Straight ahead of Ace, Teach was doing the same, except with a fist that was darker than night, a contrast to the bright colors of Ace's own fist.
He had been determined to get revenge the moment he had heard the phrase "Teach is missing" but now he was more determined than ever.
Ace couldn't let the murdering, backstabbing, traitor harm his little brother – the brat who had become his most important person many years ago – now could he?
10. Breathe Again
Night had long since fallen and so had a celebration. The victorious party cheered, drank, ate, danced, and drank some more and it was exactly what Luffy loved in a crew. This was not his crew, but that was okay because this was Ace's nakama and he'd be with his own soon.
He bounced all over the place really, following the food and entertainment and having the occasional short conversation with Whitebeard or one of the commanders on the ship, but never really letting his older brother leave his sight.
For the first time in days, Luffy felt like he could breathe again.
11. Memory
Sometimes, when the Thousand Sunny was quiet and he had watch, Luffy would sit up in the crow's nest and think of the days before he set out on this adventure with his nakama.
He didn't regret, like he had promised on a cliff overlooking the sea when he was younger, and while he preferred to live in the moment, it couldn't hurt to get lost in memories once in a while, could it?
12. Insanity
Luffy was a brand of insanity that Ace had never seen before and he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing.
13. Misfortune
Many times had he been told that he was had good fortune, something that he himself had believed. But, as he sat in the broken remains of a jungle, heart wrenching sobs and wails escaping from him, this couldn't possibly be true.
14. Smile
With a smile like sunshine on a warm summer day being one of his more notable features, Luffy liked smiles. He liked making Ace smile in particular. It was hard to do at first, but when he smiled, the crease in Ace's brow would lighten and he would get dimples in his cheeks.
As they grew older, Ace smiled easier and brighter. Without fail, it could brighten Luffy's day.
15. Silence
Silence was an unnatural thing for both Luffy and Ace. The former of the two could be heard making sounds almost all day long, from morning to night, and anything else would simply be bizarre.
But, sometimes, they would have fleeting moments of quiet. Comfortable moments, where they could sit next to one another, shoulder-to-shoulder, and simply enjoy the company that the silence brought.
16. Questioning
Luffy had a lot of questions. Questions that Ace didn't always have the answer too. Unfortunately, Luffy was a stubborn little thing who refused to take 'I don't know' for an answer. Fortunately however, his brother was also very gullible.
17. Blood
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ace could feel the panic growing inside of him. He knew it wouldn't do Luffy any good for him to panic, but as he ran through the trees, careful not to jostle the hurt and bleeding body that he carried on his back, it was becoming increasingly harder to not panic by the second.
The smell of the rain that had just begun to fall mixed in with the smell of blood that Ace had quickly come to hate. The cold rain poured on his clothes that were stained with the blood of his little brother.
His grip on Luffy tightened just a bit as he willed himself to go a bit faster.
18. Rainbow
One of Luffy's favorite activities was seeing how many colors he could make Ace's face turn in a manner of minutes.
19. Gray
He could not help but laugh at the fake, gray beard on Luffy's face. He looked absolutely ridiculous!
Luffy leaned in close to him and changed the tone of his voice. "What are you laughing at, you whippersnapper?"
Ace laughed harder and wrapped his arms around his younger brother, pulling him down so he would plant a kiss on the side of the idiot's head.
20. Fortitude
Sabo watched and he felt cruel.
He watched as his brothers found out about his death and their reactions.
He watched them grow up, without him, as well.
Watching Ace die brought an indescribable feeling, as did Luffy's reaction.
Above all else, it was painful. But he watched and he endured because what kind of brother would he be if he ignored what his two most important people went through without him being there for them.
21. Vacation
Garp would have the odd vacation every now and then. He never really got a certain time off, he could have a vacation three months apart from the last or one a year apart from the last.
This time, however, his vacation came quicker than the last. And this time, he was more than pleased to see his two grandsons getting along wonderfully, just like he thought they would.
They were with another boy, as well; who they claimed was their brother.
Well, more the merrier Garp had always thought.
22. Mother Nature
During the winter months, Mother Nature was harsh, with warm days being almost non-existent. Snow and rain were common on these days.
In the winter, you could find two brothers curled up in each other, Mother Nature not being able to keep them away from the warmth for long.
23. Cat
"No."
"Ace," whined Luffy, his arms sagging a bit, the animal in them furiously wriggling to get away, to no avail.
"I said no, now drop it."
"But I already named it!" he raised the furry feline in his arms on eye level with Ace. It hissed in his face.
"….What did you name it?"
"Niku!"
"No."
24. No Time
His breath came out in short pants as his chest began to ache. Luffy ignored it the best that he could and continued the straight path to his brother, because he didn't really have time for anything else at the moment.
25. Trouble Lurking
If there was one thing that Luffy was good at, it was getting into trouble. Ace knew this firsthand and understood it well, probably because he was pretty good at causing trouble himself. However, he knew how to get himself out of trouble, unlike Luffy.
On more than one occasion had Ace gotten his younger brother out of trouble, but if he were to be honest to himself, he would do it a million more times if he had too.
A/N: Hola B). Testing something new out; I've never really done something like this before, so it's nice to try it out.
This is the first part of four.