Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, no I truly don't. I am, however, the proud owner of Two Wholes. Yes, that's right, I went there.
Summary: Maybe the reason he's so happy and friendly is because he's scared of losing even a single friend. Truthfully, Luffy just can't stand being alone. But he never will be as long as Zoro's there. AU ZoLu.
Warning: The wonderful shonen-ai and yaoi live in the story. Read at your own risk. And beware the possibility of fluffy cuteness later on. I think that's all.
Morose Tears
Being lonely and singled out was a terrible feeling. Imagine how completely abysmal it must've been for someone with a constant need for the companionship of others.
Yet, Monkey D. Luffy would never say anything.
He may not have been brightest boy at Loguetown High, but he was smart enough to know when his friend's had other plans and not to trouble them with his own problems. Besides, it wasn't really a 'problem' to begin with.
It was about 12:15 when the bell rang, signaling the end of fourth period and the beginning of first lunch. As usual, Luffy sprinted to the cafeteria, knocking out any student unlucky (or stupid) enough to come between him and his precious meat.
Once inside, the raven-haired boy dashed for the closest line and moaned impatiently as he had to wait for the cluster of students who had someone managed to arrive before him. There were only five other people ahead of him, but that was a lot when you were hungry.
After obtaining his priceless meat-filled tray, Luffy grinned and set out to find his friends. It didn't take long. They always sat at the same table.
With his standard huge grin and a loud smack resounding from where the tray met table, the skinny junior plopped down at the head of the table next to Nami and Zoro.
"Ah man, how'd you guys get here before me?" Luffy whined, a tad disappointed.
"Easy," Nami responded, "We took the line with the fewest people rather than the one with the closest to the entrance." The redhead took a napkin and dabbed it at her lip, removing the crumbs from the cake she was giving.
"But it was a real fight!" Usopp exaggerated, occupying the space next to Zoro. "People were attacking us from all directions just to take our place in line! Luckily, I fought them all off without lifting a finger!" The tan-skinned man proudly placed a finger to his chest.
The green-haired senior scoffed. "As if. That ero cook only let us cut ahead 'cuz Nami was with us! Why else do you think she got cake while we only got those leftover muffins from breakfast?"
Luffy pouted. "Aw, Sanji's so lucky! He gets to work in the cafeteria and eat all the food he wants! I bet he takes some from all three lunches too, the bastard."
"And you wouldn't do the same?" Usopp questioned.
"Bastard," Luffy puffed again. Nami chuckled at the thought of how the blonde would look if he indeed ate like their friend suggested. The skinny boy bit off a huge piece of his drumstick before continuing. "Anyway, what're you guys doing tonight?"
"My dad wants me to go out Syrup Village with him," the teen with curly raven hair responded first.
"Vivi's coming here all the way from Alabasta and we're gonna spend the entire weekend together!" Nami squealed, giggling at the thought of seeing her long distance friend in what felt like years (even though it was only months). "Sanji-kun's coming with us."
"Naturally," Zoro grumbled. Luffy snatched the ham sandwich from his tray. The senior glared.
"Wadder you dunna fu?" the smaller teen asked, mouth filled with food.
"Huh?" came his response.
Luffy swallowed his mouthful in an effortless gulp. "I said, 'what're you gonna do?'.
"Probably sleep. You know I never feel like much of anything on Friday nights." Zoro replied. He stretched and let out a loud yawn. "Speaking of which, I think I'll head to the library for a quick nap."
"Okay," Nami and Usopp chimed like it was the most normal thing in the world. Zoro would more often than not take naps in the library. The only reason he wasn't kicked out was because the assistant librarian knew him, like the rest of his friends, on a personal level.
Zoro, however, couldn't help but notice the slight look of dejection that crept onto Luffy's face for a brief second. Meh, probably seeing things. He thought with another yawn.
XXmAgIcTiMeSkIpAcTiOnGoXX
After slamming his nearly empty locker shut, Zoro slung his black and green backpack over his shoulder out of the building. Reaching the student parking lot, he reached into the pocket of his jeans and took out the keys to his old car.
It wasn't the best looking car, but it wasn't as if he had anywhere to go other than school and the local gym, so he didn't complain.
Getting into the driver's seat, he noticed someone walking down the sidewalk with their head hung low. "Luffy?" he mumbled to himself. Maybe I should give him a ride. He looks kinda down.
He mentally slapped himself.
Give him a ride? Geez Zoro, it's only Luffy. Knowing him, he's looking at the ground 'cuz he saw some 'mystery' ants or something.
The green-haired man looked up one more time before starting the ignition. Luffy didn't get sad. He was always a happy and healthy little bundle of energy. What's he have to be sad about anyway?
"Ace'll take care of whatever it is," he grumbled to himself.
XXlEt'SpLaYtHeTiMeWaRpXX
Luffy threw himself down in the couch with a huge sigh. "Today was a lot more tiring than usual. It takes a lot to be happy all the time!" He tossed his backpack to the ground and turned on the television. Two Wholes, an action show about less-than-average cowboy adventurers, always seemed to put him in a good mood.
About an hour later, he heard the door to his and his brother's apartment swing open and a loud voice shout, "Luffy, I'm home!" followed by a track of canned laughter. Well, maybe not that last part…
"Hiya Ace!" the bouncy boy shouted excitedly, tackling his brother to the ground.
"Hey," the taller man replied, trying to shrug his younger sibling off of him. He didn't budge. "Luffy, move." Ace groaned.
"No!" Luffy stated defiantly, his lower lip poked out in a sad whimper. "If I move, you'll leave!"
Ace sighed and ran an hand through his messy raven locks. He knew this was coming sooner or later. "Luffy, we talked about this already. I have go all the way to the Grand Line to find a good college!"
"But why you have to go all the way there? There's a community college right here in Loguetown!" Luffy complained with no intention of removing himself from his brother's torso.
The freckled-faced man exhaled again before explaining. "I told you, the college here doesn't offer what I wanna major in, so I have to go out to the Grand Line to find it."
"Why do you wanna be a pyro technician anyway?" the younger groaned.
"Because," Ace began, moving his hands to tickle his brother in the sides, "Fire is the deadliest most beautiful thing in the world."
He was finally free of Luffy and said boy was rolling uncontrollably on the ground.
"I'll only be gone for the weekend. If you get lonely, just invite some friends over," Ace suggested.
"But they're all busy…" Luffy complained yet again.
The taller of the two placed his hands on the boy's shoulder. "Look, you're a bright kid. I know you'll figure out something to do to pass the time." He stopped to ruffle Luffy's hair. "In the meantime, I have to get ready. I'm supposed to meet Shanks in a bit."
"WHAT?! Shanks is going too!? That's not fair, Nii-chan!"
Ace ignored him and went into his bedroom to get ready. Luffy grumbled something rude and went back to watching his cowboy anime.
XXnOtHiNgClEvErThIsTiMeXX
On the other side of town, Zoro flipped through the channels in his apartment. The cable was out again. Figures.
He placed the remote by the television set and stalked off to his room. There was never anything to do besides school and the gym. Strangely, even his favorite workout place seemed uninteresting. It was all Luffy's fault.
Stupid round face.
Stupid huge smile.
Stupid gorgeous eyes.
Stupid bouncy personality.
Stupid sickening cuteness…
Try as he might, Zoro could not seem to take his mind from the silly straw hat boy. He never cared about him like that before. It had to be that damn sorrowful look. If Zoro had just left instead of trying to question things, he wouldn't be feeling this way.
Stupid curiosity.
Although, it was a bit refreshing to see the younger had other emotion besides perpetual happiness, even if the other emotion he saw just had to be sadness.
"This whole thing is just stupid! Ace is his brother, he'll take care of it!" the green-haired man growled. Ace was also a senior and he shared a fair amount of classes with the freckled man. They were… interesting. Especially during lab experiments involving fire.
No, no, no! He was supposed to be thinking of Luffy, not his brother. Argh! He wasn't even supposed to be thinking of Luffy!
Stupid hormones.
"Maybe if I went to visit him, I could stop thinking about him," Zoro pondered aloud. After several moments of consideration, he threw his head into a pillow. "Nah, that'd be too easy. Might as well nap."
XXsCeNeChAnGeFoUrXX
Luffy with his head buried in his knees on the sofa. It had been hours since Ace left to meet Shanks. He hadn't moved a single inch in that time. Not even his favorite cowboy escorting a lost princess to her kingdom cheered him up.
He missed Ace.
He felt lost.
He was lonely.
And so he continued to sit alone on the old blue sofa hoping a miracle would happen and his brother just had to return. He sat on the sofa, wallowing in his own silent seclusion.
TBC? You bet!
Ending Omake
Ice: Yosh! Can anyone tell me what my favorite number is?
Chopper: Is it twenty-one?
Ice: Aw, you're too cute! (pinches Chopper's cheeks) But no, it's not.
Chopper: (shocked)
Ice: It's seven, I say! Seven! And guess how many stories I have now! SEVEN!!
Usopp: Where did that come from?
Ice: Get out, you had you're turn!
Usopp: Freakin' psycho… (slams door)
Ice: Your mom's a psycho!
Chopper: (gasp) Ice-kun, Usopp-kun's mother is dead!
TOTAL SILENCE OF DOOM!!111ONE
Ice: Usopp-kun!! (chases Usopp)
Chopper: Please leave reviews! (hides behind table)
Ice: USOOOOOPP!!