This fanfic is set in a bit futuristic community, where you won't be discriminated against for being gay or lesbian. Of course there are some people still opposed to the idea, but society has a much more relaxed view on it. Set it like that, cause I dislike the 'OMG, you're gay!?' shrieks. To everyone its own, right :) ENJOY
NOTE: I do not own One Piece.
Sabaody-College was located on a island in the south. It was just like its name suggests: a maze of detached buildings loved by the sun and surrounded by the wide blue sea on three sides. To the north a long steady bridge connected the isle to the mainland, where Belize stood. A metropolis of sheer epic size - a centre of commerce, intercourse and money.
Skyscrapers cut through the sky and illuminated the night all year long. The noise was unbearable during midday and the only zones engulfed in serenity were the many parks, gardens etc. Those botanical gardens, hanging gardens, natural parks, urban parks, green lanes were frequently used by the citizens.
The students of Sabaody-College had no need for that though as the whole isle was covered in an unbelievable green. The buildings broke through cool crowns like flowers on a lane, each painted their own color. Sometimes multiple colors. The picture of the island was like a colorfully painted carpet amid deep blue. During the day the contrast between the isle and the city was so tremendous, it was gross actually. Like a single flower pressing itself through hard cement. But during night, the many colors shone to the lights of the city like a missing puzzle piece laid in place.
The freshmen though barely had time to enjoy the rare earth as the knot garden presented them with the problem of finding their way through towards their lecture halls. Some would break down in teas after losing their way once again coming out at the law lecture instead of the economy one. Sometimes a few students would get together and paint a building a different color for fun. A building still yellow yesterday will suddenly be blue the next and the freshmen in their confused state of mind would run straight past. It was a form of enjoyment for all teachers and older students on campus.
Still the students stayed. Nowhere else a college occupied a whole island, allowing its students to study just about everything they wished to. The facilities and professors provided were top-class. The only ones able to get in were people who either possessed power, money or wealth. The more you had of one, the lesser you required of the others. And that is only for getting in. To actually graduate you had to excel in something. If you were bad at sports, you needed to study harder to create a equilibrium and so on. As a reward boundaries were close to non-existent for graduates, companies would fight each other to hire you. It was a college for future leaders of society.
This college soon became a landmark throughout the whole world after its opening forty years ago. Rich and influential people worldwide sent their kids to attend it as it became something of a brand, you used to show off.
Today, the first of september, the old semester came to an end and the new one in-officially began. In-officially because the new semester actually started in one months time. The campus thudded with shouts from many throats, the noises of the cars arriving, the thumping of feet and everything else mixed in, creating a symphony. It was the wonderful melody of the break starting. Students flung their arms around their parents necks, liberated from their exams and ready to celebrate their freedom. Those who left forever cried and said their goodbyes, exchanging numbers, addresses and promises. Those who left to visit their home in the break left with a wave and those who stayed waved back. Though they were a minority as most had the wish and means to leave for a well deserved vacation.
Amid that stormy sea only one place remained an oasis of calm. It was called the Polaris*. No one knows who gave it that name first, but it stuck and stayed. The Polaris was the main residence on campus, the only steady guide among the ever changing landscape. It was also the directors office. Monkey D. Garp.
He is an elite marine veteran and the top dog of many companies, such as the Monkey D. Food Chain. Garp established that college for his son to attend, once he grew to that age. But Dragon never graduated college. Because of Garps opposition, he eloped with the woman he loved, leaving his father heartbroken. Garp wiped out every memory of Dragon of his mind and lived from day to day without caring for seven years like that. Till the fateful call.
"Moshi, moshi. Is there Monkey D. Garp?"
"Who's asking?"
"I'm from the police. There was an accident. A truck crashed into a convenience store and overrun a couple. Both died instantly. It became apparent that one of them is your son, Monkey D. Dragon, together with his wife."
"..."
"We secured a survivor. Sir? Mr. Monkey, are you listening?"
Garp flew out immediately and arrived at the Goa city police station the next day.
"Mr. Garp? Please follow me."
A policewoman guided him to the dead bodies of his family. After a few minutes Garp left. All arrangements were made, there was nothing left to do.
"Excuse me, Mr. Garp. What about the child? Are we to register him at an orphanage?"
"Orphanage? Child?"
Garp was completely confused. The policewoman only smiled and led the way. On a bench, covered in bandages sat a small boy.
"He wanted to stay by his parents."
"He...he is my...grand..child?"
"Yes, certainly sir. We have identified him as such."
"I have a grandchild..." Garp looked baffled.
Again the woman only smiled.
"His name is Luffy."
Garp looked at her.
"Monkey D. Luffy..."
"Certainly."
She made a shooing gesture.
"Now go. Greet him. I will be at the front desk if you need me sir." An encouraging smile and she was gone.
Garp just stood there watching the boy for a while, but as the boy did no motion and took no notice of him either, he slowly approached him.
"Harrumph." Garp coughed slightly to grab the boys attention. Luffy slowly lifted up his eyes.
"Hello, mister."
"H-Hello."
With no other things to say the conversation died down before it began. After standing and gazing down at his unexpected grandson for a while, Garp moved to his other side and lowered himself on the bench too.
They sat there quietly for some time.
"Ähmm, so.. your name is Luffy?"
"Yes. What's yours?"
"Garp."
"Oh."
Again a silence settled in. Garp hurriedly thought of what to say.
"So..how are you feeling?" As soon as the sentence was out, he could have had punched himself.
"Fine."
"Oh..really?" That came unexpected. So the kid was fine after all? Yeah, right.
Garp sighed.
"Why are you sighing mister?"
"No need for the mister. Just call me Garp. I'm sighing because of my stupidity. No use regretting things you cannot change anymore."
"What things?"
"Like not visiting my only son. And not being happy for him, when he was happy. ...Not knowing I had a grandson, either."
"Oh... . Yeah, I would regret those too."
They fell silent again.
"I regret something too. My parents died, you see. ...I wish I was there with them. But I wanted a candy and ran ahead... I shouldn't have... I left them alone."
"Oh... . But they have each other, right?"
There was no response for a long time.
"But... I..I'm...hic..alo..ne now..hic."
Tears dripped down Luffy's face. He rubbed them away angrily but new ones followed. Garp awkwardly placed an arm around his shoulders.
"You know... what if I said... you have a grandfather?"
The kid looked up to me through tearful eyes.
"I..I have...hic...a grandfather? I didn't know..."
"Yeah... funny stuff. Turns out I have a grandson..."
A few drops escaped the old mans eyes, who hurriedly blinked them away in return. He swallowed hard against the lump caught in his throat.
"Oh... OH!"
The tears stopped completely now.
"Yeah. ...I'm your grandfather, Luffy." Garp answered the unheard question.
A smile bloomed on the lips of the boy. Though small, at least it was real.
*Polaris - as in the prominent star, the brightest star in the Ursa Minor or the Little Dipper star constellation. A guide for those lost at sea.