We're the Same

"Again our journalism staff is requesting appropriate pictures taken by students over this summer. If you have pictures, either send them to, or talk to, senior member Vivi. Also, at 3:15 PM today, all boys sports players please report to the gym for a mandatory meeting regarding training schedules. That is all our announcements. Have a wonderful afternoon!"

The school bell rang out over the PA system and kids flooded into the hallways, jittery and still buzzed from last-minute summer parties. Loud laughs and slamming lockers made talking a difficult task, and thinking an even harder one. It was only just the beginning of the school year and Kidd hated most everyone around him.

Just as he was thinking this to himself, Killer shuffled up next to him at his locker, hands in pockets and quiet until Kidd was ready to address him. He knew how his friend was when it came to school and his mood. Kidd pushed miscellaneous items into his backpack and decided that was all he needed. Looking up to check the time on the hallway clock, his glance met his blonde friend's smiling face instead. Kidd sighed and leaned back to look around him. 3:06 already.

"Don't worry, Kidd, we won't be late," Killer told him. Kidd nodded, zipping his bookbag up. He stood, closed his locker and gave Killer a pat on the shoulder as the two departed for the gym together.

None of the guys quite knew what to expect from the meeting, as rarely, if ever, did they call all sports teams to the same meeting. Kidd and Killer wondered this to themselves as they waited in the bleachers and more people steadily flowed in for the meeting as well. Watching the crowd come in, Kidd was amused by all the different kinds of guys he could see- the odd bowling team people, cocky LAX players, hard-to-read golfers and, of course, the king football and basketball guys. Kidd fell under the football category, although he didn't like to think of himself as the same kind of person as the others on his team. He was just a force to be reckoned with.

Killer gestured to some of his wrestling friends to come over by them and sit down, to which Kidd had forgotten that Killer had other friends. These people he didn't even know, but they met with handshakes and smiles nonetheless. Kidd was nonplussed.

When the time came around for the meeting to start, a small podium was brought out where the head athletic director stood with a microphone. He signaled for everyone to be quiet, and he picked up a packet of papers in front of him, flipping through with a squint. He looked back up and over the crowd in the bleachers. He leaned his head towards the microphone.

"If you would please listen carefully and then be prepared to move, thank you. I will have you sit with the sports team that you will be participating in first, chronologically. If you are in both swim and baseball, please sit with your swim team, and so on. Wait, wait- don't move, you don't know where you're going. If the golf and lacrosse teams would please move into section A now.."

There was a groan and a loud cacophony of shuffling and banging as the two teams moved out. It was funny to Kidd to noticed that this group looked like two separate realms, mainly skinny white kids with lots of money and a mixture of other guys with lots of muscle. The sections divided up in similar fashion until everyone was sorted out. Once satisfaction had been achieved, the director once more took to his mic.

"Okay, settle down again. Now, everyone is used to being called by their individual coaches for training and practice schedules when the season begins to come around. Football guys already have been training. However, this year we will be trying to better introduce all of you to your other fellow sports members whom you may have not had any idea of their existence. The rifle club does not usually ever associate with the hockey team. My point is, you've all clique-ified, and to counter this and promote better teamwork both on and of the playing field, the school has asked that we install a school-wide open gym program several times a week where you can come, work out and hang out with other guys."

The noise in the gym began to increase as everyone was either intrigued or disgusted by the idea. Kidd wasn't sure how he felt- he hated everyone to begin with, so what difference did it make to him?

"Okay, here's the kicker- you have to come to at least one a week, even for those players whose season hasn't started yet. We'll have a log in at the door where you'll write your name, and at the end of the week I will tally you all up and notify your coaches of your behavior. I'll let your coaches decide on discipline for noncompliance. The days of open gym will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 3 to 6 PM. If there is a scheduling issue where you cannot attend, discuss the matter with your coach personally. The program will be starting next week. Thank you, and you are dismissed."

Everyone got up with a much talking, debating why they had separated in the first place and how their work schedules were not as flexible as they would like. Kidd grabbed his bag and stood up amid the other football players, towering. He began to look around over the others' heads for blonde hair, which he found quite a ways over in the bleachers. He stood there, perfectly still, waiting. People cleared out around him, avoiding bumping into him, and when he turned to look at the gym clock and looked back, Killer had left with his other friends. Kidd sighed, noticing someone still in the gym, waiting as well.

Kidd walked down the steps of the bleachers, his footsteps now echoing in the gym. He turned to exit the building as he felt an inclination to stop. He stopped and turned, facing the other person in the gym. He looked young, and he probably couldn't drive yet, having to wait for a ride. Kidd didn't have anything better to do, since his only friend ditched him.

"Hey."

The guy looked up at him, startled from his thoughts. Kidd almost laughed.

"Do you need a ride?" Kidd asked him, leaning on the wall. His voice resounded in the gym, sounding odd to him. Maybe it wasn't so much his voice but what he said that sounded weird to him.

"Oh, uh.. I mean.. I'm fine," the other responded, giving a wave in dismissal. He looked away and rubbed his neck. Kidd raised an eyebrow, deciding to walk over to him. The boy didn't notice until Kidd was standing right in front of him, and his tall shadow was cast down over him. He looked up while Kidd looked down at him.

"Come on," Kidd said, gesturing with his head towards the door. The recipient stood with his bag in hand, unsure of what was the smartest course of action. Kidd turned to walk away, and he decided that getting a ride from him was probably just expected at this point. He followed.

Walking across the school's parking lot with hands in pockets, Kidd glanced over his shoulder to make sure that the kid was following. Kidd couldn't begin to tell what was going through his head.

"Hey, what's your name?" Kidd asked him, trying to slow down and walk beside him. The kid seemed hesitant. Kidd titled his head to look at him.

"Luffy," he answered, looking Kidd in the eyes abruptly. Kidd made a face of 'interesting' and looked back ahead of him. Luffy kept an eye on Kidd for a few seconds while they walked, deciding what to do. This guy was buff, and could do whatever he wanted.

"Kidd," Kidd told him in response, glancing back down with a straight face. Luffy returned the look with a nod.

When they got to Kidd's Jeep Cherokee, he unlocked it and ducked in, throwing his bag in the back seat. Luffy opened the passenger door and faced a pair of jeans and a jacket in the seat, to which his first thought was "girlfriend". Kidd noticed the dilemma and grabbed the clothes, also tossing them into the backseat while he put a hand out for Luffy's bag as well. It was tentatively handed over, and Luffy climbed in.

"Sorry, Killer left his clothes at my house," Kidd said nonchalantly, keys jingling as the car came to life and began its way out. Luffy was surprised by that.

"The blonde one?" Luffy asked, and Kidd nodded. He had instinctively started to just drive home to his own house when he came to a stop sign. It dawned on him. He started pointing in random directions and gave Luffy a look.

"Uh.. which way should I be going here? Where do you live?"

"Keep going, this is right," Luffy said, relaxing with an arm out the open window. Kidd made a sound.

"Huh. Well, just let me know where I'm going."

"Okay."

It was a nice late summer day, with a breeze in the trees and sunlight through the leaves. The lawns were still green and kids were out running around, playing tag and being loud. Luffy could relate, wanting to be small and playful again. Then again, it's not like he had friends to be playful with. Kidd tapped a song out on the door frame, eyeing the expression on Luffy's face. He could feel a kind of kindred feeling being shared.

"What grade are you in?" Kidd asked, stopping at a light. Luffy blinked and turned back to face Kidd.

"I'm a freshman.. and you're a senior, right?" Luffy replied, looking over Kidd's face while he faced forward. He had a strong build, and his face screamed of manhood with his hair back in a headband. Kidd turned to him, catching Luffy off guard. Kidd hid a smirk.

"What makes you say that?" Kidd questioned with curiosity. Luffy shrugged.

"Just seem like it, I don't know."

"Thank you, I guess. I'm a junior," Kidd told him, watching Luffy's face change to a mildly surprised expression. Luffy appeared sheepish as he pointed up at the light which had turned green. The car behind him honked and Kidd waved in apology out his window. Kidd had once more just gone the way that he knew, but there was no objection.

"Then, are you in football?" Luffy asked, pretty sure that he was right. Kidd nodded. Kidd had no idea what the twig of a boy next to him played, so he just asked outright.

"Tennis. I'm not very good, though," Luffy admitted with an embarrassed smirk.

"What makes you say that?"

"I've never played before, so there's that, and my backhand is really bad. It's like my brain can't process motion in that direction," Luffy laughed, using hand motions to help him explain, "I think it's fun though." Kidd was amused.

"Eh, can't do everything. I'm a lineman, but I think I'd be a better receiver, really. I'm big but not that heavy," Kidd explained. Luffy nodded, following his train of thought. Kidd's biceps were huge, but really, everything that he could see about Kidd was big. His shoulders were wide and strong like a rock, and his pecs were evidently a workout focus. Kidd caught him looking, but Luffy didn't notice.

Kidd suddenly was aware that he was near his own house, and he started to get embarrassed. He turned to Luffy. "Uh, I'm sorry. I was on autopilot. Are we close to your house?" Luffy nodded, finally pulling out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, just turn left on the next street and my house is the yellow one."

Kidd did as was told and pulled up in front of said house. He stretched back a long arm and retrieved Luffy's bag, handing it back to him with an odd smirk. Luffy nodded to him in thanks as he unbuckled his seatbelt and exited the car. "See ya tomorrow, Kidd."

"Yeah- oh, hey, what day were you thinking about going to open gym?" Kidd asked him through the open window. Luffy shrugged.

"I don't know, I was thinking maybe Thursday. Why?" Luffy asked, slinging the bag over his shoulder. Kidd was gesturing with his hands, trying to think of a way to say what he wanted to say.

"Well, it's just that I live close by here and I wouldn't mind giving you a ride home, if you need it," Kidd reasoned. Luffy raised an eyebrow in thought, seeing the logic. That would be very convenient.

"Sure, thanks," Luffy told him. Kidd gave him a salute, and then looked at the clock on the dash.

"Cool. Well, I gotta hustle to work, so I'll see ya later," Kidd told him with a slight wave. Luffy put his hand up to wave back and Kidd pulled away from his house and went off out of sight.

Luffy stood in his front yard for a few minutes, contemplating what had all just gone down.

~ + thanks for reading! This was requested by Akuma Takeshi Jagerjack: more KiddLu! Back in business! Also, continue this, or leave it at this cliffhanger? + ~