Hi there everyone, Pample here!

Wow, it's been such a long time since I posted anything here; I've been sticking to the anonymous realms of Livejournal's Fic-For-All. People should check it out.

I wrote these stories from a prompt there, but as it's Christmas, I thought I should share this will you. Merry Christmas everyone!


Luffy

.

"Ace!"

The short cry was all he heard before the young, freckled boy was tackled around the waist by his exuberant, cheerful shadow. Glancing down, Ace saw his younger brother's smile split his face, and it melted the ice that had been freezing around his heart ever since they lost Sabo.

Ruffling the straw hat on Luffy's head, Ace pushed his brother off him. When he fell on the rear with a pount on his face, Ace stuck his tongue out.

"What's got you so cheerful?"

"Dadan told me!"

He tried to consider what this might mean. But Luffy's random statements were legendary and he drew a blank. He munched on the leftover gator meat he'd been eating; carefully eyeing his brother's thieving hands.

"Told you what?"

"That it's Christmas!"

Luffy plopped down by the fire, still grinning and humming to himself, waiting for Ace to slip up so he can get some spare meat. He remembered the morning's chat with Dadan clearly. Tired of seeing everyone so upset after what had happened in the trash mountain, he asked if there was a time when everyone was happy. She had explained lots of times, and that holiday was just like what was happening at the moment so that must mean it's the right time of year!

Ace, on the other hand, was thoroughly confused. He'd never celebrated the holiday before; no biological family to be with and no money to spoil his new relatives. It was an event he knew of but never participated, like so many others for a cursed boy like he. Dadan had mentioned the concept and discussed it in detail though. And he was pretty sure it didn't happen in the middle of Summer. Perhaps she forgot to mention that to Luffy, who was insistent he was right despite the blazing heat and chirping of mosquitoes in the late evening haze.

"Luffy..."

"Yup, Dadan said that Christmas was a time of giving, and triumph of good. And we beat those guys in the fire, right? Then she gave me some food right after so it must be Christmas. But there are no trees? Maybe they were all in the burnt part of the trash..."

Ace wanted to laugh. He tried to keep it in, not wanting to embarrass his young companion. But it was too hard; Luffy's simple mind mistaking Dadan's easy to digest explanations was too adorable. His childish glee broke through the oppressive quiet of the mountain. When Luffy turned his hurt eyes upon him he quietened, and tore off the tail of the gator. Smiling, Ace handed it over to the younger boy.

"Merry Christmas, brother"

Watching his only family chew happily on the remaining food, Ace smiled. It may not be the right time of year, but the warm joy in his heart was much better than the searing darkness he had felt recently. Maybe Christmas could come a little early this year.

As the Sun sank below the sky and night time took its hold of the world, Luffy stopped gnawing on the gator bone and curled up next to his older brother. He turned onto his back and watched the stars, just like Ace, before muttering quietly.

"Hey, Ace."

An eye cracked open "Hmm?"

"...Do you think that Sabo will be enjoying Christmas as well?"

Staring in the night sky, the still smouldering trash mountain hidden by darkness, Ace felt more content than he had in a long time.

"I'm sure he is."

...