DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. I DO NOT TAKE ANY CREDIT! I WISH I COULD BUT I DONT!

Hi guys!

This is an experiment fic. Just wondered how Shanks and Ace would fit together so yeah. Hope you enjoy.

Oh and by the way, give me some advice here. I was thinking ace with Shanks and then later develop a relationship between Ace and Luffy. Give me your input. I'm not sure if i want to do it yet. :S It might be weird...

ENJOY!


Dragon had taken it too far that time.

He was supposed to be their foster father but he spent all his time and money at the casino. His support for Luffy and Ace was non-existent and it felt only right that I should help out. After all, we were best mates; I should look out for his kids, you know, make sure they're alright and everything.

It was only a matter of time before Luffy and Ace would need someone to look after them. Luffy was only sixteen and still went to school. I barely knew Ace as the first and last time I met him was when he was a rebellious teenager; now he was almost twenty. I wasn't sure if Ace was at all capable to look after his immature and oblivious-to-life brother. There was always the possibility that Ace was a lazy slob who slept all day and provided no support; well that was my main reason for visiting. I had to find out if they were coping and I had to find out whether Ace was suitable. Luffy was special to me and he deserved a good life.

I waited for the elevator doors to open. That surging feeling in my stomach had gone so I knew the lift had stopped on the top floor unless some little bugger pressed the button.

Ding.

The door opened, making a smooth metallic sound as they did so.

I stepped out and walked along the corridor. The building wasn't shabby in the slightest; in fact it was nearing snazzy.

I found the right door number and knocked on it rather loudly. Pounding footsteps could be heard, making the floor beneath my feet vibrate excitedly.

The door swung open.

'SHANKS!'

Luffy gave me a full body hug, clinging to me with his arms and legs.

'You haven't changed much.' I replied, laughing as I prised him off me.

'I missed you Shanks!' Luffy said, pulling on my arm. I followed him through a corridor and into a bedroom.

'This is my bedroom.' he said in a tour voice.

He continued to pull me along by the sleeve and I smiled. His presence was so comforting.

'This is Ace's bedroom where Ace said you should stay but he snores so you might not want to.' Luffy laid back on Ace's bed and stretched his arms behind his head. He closed his eyes and smiles. 'I'm so happy you're here.'

'Yeah, me too kid.' I replied. 'Look, I'm not sure if I'm going to be staying tonight.'

Luffy didn't stir. He was asleep with a smile on his lips and a bubble of snot breathing in and out from his nose.

I walked out the room and half closed the door. I walked down the corridor we came, looking in different rooms. It was a very big apartment; a lot bigger than I expected. I leaned against a wall and rested my head against it. It was going to be a long day. The morning sun had already risen and I still had to check out the apartment, find out the financial situation and, well, meet Ace.

I didn't know what to expect, or maybe subconsciously I did. I suppose in my mind I imagined a lazy bum with constant hangovers with the pizza delivery number on speed dial. Further back in my mind where I didn't want to look, I suspected his idea of a financial plan was spend-what-you-get.

How I met Ace was quite startling and, to put it lightly, interesting.

I stood there, deep in my thoughts when a door I hadn't investigated opened not too far away from me.

Steam erupted through the doorway, floating through the air like thick smoke. A dark figure emerged through the curtain of white which parted for him and slowly settled to the ground in worship.

Beads of water dripped from the long black hair, hitting the floor like bullets, exploding as they made contact. His lips were encrusted with water-gems, glistening intently. Freckles tinted his cheeks, showing off the sun and his eyes were daring and bold. Looking down, the young man's body was almost sinful. Ripe muscles were carved into his torso and a short towel hung loosely from his hips, leaving little to the imagination.

I acknowledged Ace's attractiveness but I only admired him for it. He was the kind of guy who worked out non-stop.

'Ace, long time no see.' I said, smiling.

Ace gave a toothy smirk before it wavered and turned into a yawn.

'It's been a while. Sorry about this, gimme a sec.'

'Sure, I'll be in the living room if I can find it.' I replied, glancing down one of the many corridors.

'Just down there, through the kitchen and the second door on the right. Help yourself to some food.' Ace said before disappearing.

I was curious.

More than curious.

The place was a mansion. It was spotless and there was food. With Luffy around, I was expecting an empty fridge and secret stashes of pot-noodle.

I walked through the maze and found the kitchen. A fruit bowl was centred on the kitchen table and the sink was empty. The draining board was full of clean dishes and the floor looked clean enough to eat off. Their apartment was cleaner than mine.

I picked up one of the shiny red apples and took a bite out of it. No worms, no bruises. It was juicy and sweet. Maybe there was no reason to visit.

I went through to the living room and sat down on a sofa. It was leather and looked very expensive.

'Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting you to arrive so early. You say what time you were coming so I assumed you'd be here around lunch time.' Ace said. He had a pair of three quarter length jeans on and nothing else. As he turned to pick up a plate from the floor, I noticed the large tattoo on his back. It had a tribal feel to it. He had another tattoo on his arm but it was in a different language. It was more like signs and symbols than actual letters.

'Sorry, I forgot. I needed to inspect things and wanted to squeeze it all in one day.' I replied.

'Nah forget it. Honestly, Luffy is such a slob.' Ace said, picking up another plate. He placed them on the coffee table and sat down opposite me. 'Where is the little guy?'

'He fell asleep in your room when showing me around.' I replied, rolling my eyes.

An uncomfortable silence sunk in to our conversation (or lack of) and my eyes were forced to take their own tour around the room.

'I can't believe this.'

I looked up suddenly. Ace was looking at me with this incredulous look on his face.

'What?' I replied.

'You're not going to say anything?'

Confusion really hit hard.

'You're not going to tell me what you're talking about?' I mocked, smiling.

'Last time I saw you, you kept badgering me to "put some damn clothes on". Don't you remember?' Ace replied, eyebrow raised.

'Like it was yesterday but I can't really tell you what to do.' I replied, relaxing back into the groove of the couch.

'You used to.' Ace mumbled in defiance.

'Yeah and you used to make that face!'

'What face?'

'That one!'

Ace turned his head slightly and frowned playfully. I smiled and started to fiddle with my empty sleeve. It had been such a long time since the incident. Luffy still hadn't forgiven himself for it.

'Hey, I'm gonna cook some breakfast, I take it you'll want to inspect my cooking skills?' Ace said, starting for the door.

'If there is one thing I'm worried about, it's Luffy's diet.' I replied, following him.

I watched Ace prepare the food, meat on the red chopping board, a new board and knife for the vegetables. Nothing was over or under cooked. I couldn't complain.

Everything was served on a big platter and set in the middle of the table.

'Oi Luffy!' Ace called.

You could almost hear Luffy's heart skip a beat. He burst through the door and lunged for the food.

'What did we talk about?' Ace said, stopping his little brother dead in his tracks.

The sixteen year old pulled out a chair hastily and sat down, rigid. His gaze was fixed on the food.

I was stunned, frozen like a statue just like Luffy's own state.

'What the fuck have you done to him?' I asked.

'Jesus, since when do you swear?' Ace laughed as he handed out the plates. 'It's a bit of an improvement i suppose.'

'Improvement? For Luffy this is like rocket science!'

'Yeah, don't think this happened over night. It took a whole year to teach him how to use a knife and fork properly.'

I sat down and looked at Luffy once more. It was weird, amazing, but weird.

When Ace had finally got everything in place, he started to fill our plates equally. Luffy constantly watched his plate going back and forth like a magnet. Ace put his plate down in front of him and picked up mine.

Luffy started to tremble and the muscle in his jaw tensed.

'Wait it out a bit longer and I'll give you a present.' I whispered. I saw Ace smile out the corner of my eye.

Luffy turned his head to me and gave me a cheesy grin. God I loved this kid.


For the NEXT CHAPTER you have to figure out the riddle! i do it for every fanfic. once i get three right answers, i will publish the next chapter!

here is the riddle:

i am very popular both with the old and the young

you can use me in so many different ways

some people like to build with me

some people like to gamble with me

some people like to toss me one by one into a container

i am a game

what am i?

clues:

Pack of