DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE

If I had any say in how One Piece was made I would have done everything in my power to stop Ace from dying. Like maybe rebirth him or something, and like make him go fight in the arena to get his devil fruit power back. Hey this can turn out to be a good fanfic. Well either way...

This is something I wrote 4 years ago, and am rewriting now. So probably wont have any new chapters for a while more, im sorry I know I havent updated in the last 6 months or so but I will now. I am gaining control over my life, bit by bit, being more responsible and going to attempt to even study when school starts in 5 days. I usually don't, there is no reason for me to since the education system has pretty low expectations. Either way, im out from recovery, and for now I am keeping my head afloat. It's kind of embarrassing that I spilled the beans about my life on a social media site like this, but I removed it now. I am okay, I will continue to write and read and draw and day dream and be a sarcastic asshole to my friends.

Warning!: There is non-consensual intercourse (rape) happening later! (Ace and Luffy).

Mature warnings for language (Sanji and Kidd), bdsm (Kidd and Law later on), use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs (it's a high school fanfic I think we all know what goes on there), graphic content (sex and violence) and descriptions of wounds and gore.

Enjoy~

It was quiet, something that rarely ever happened in the small apartment of Ace and Marco's. There would usually be either girls or drunk guys everywhere and nobody could decide which one was more entertaining. But today, Ace laid on his bed facing the ceiling. His eyes were closed shut and the skin under his eye wrinkled up once in a while when his teeth would sink into the wooden kebab stick that was poking out of his mouth. This was his favourite thinking position. Alone and left to his thoughts, with no one watching him or questioning him when he did sudden movements like throwing pillows at the wall or grabbing the bed sheets under him and rolling himself into a burrito. Which is exactly what he just did at that moment. He was in a dilemma you see, split between how he was feeling towards a particular boy. Confused about how he should feel and how he was feeling. His mind muddled over with emotions he did not understand, with memories that infuriated him. Both from their context and the way that he reacted in them. This was the first time that Ace saw anger as a complex emotion, up until now he always thought of it as simple and straight forward. He only saw anger as a very dry emotion, that stuffed every other feeling deep inside him and made his mind as clear as creek water. Anger made him speak his mind and react with his fists instead. Punching, kicking, fracturing arms, bruising ribs and cheekbones and making noses bleed crimson. He knew he had a few anger issues and that he didn't think before acting but he never really regretted anything he ever did. Yep, he never regretted anything. He was a man of no regret, none whatsoever. The accident (though he didn't think anything that caused it was his fault) was also something he didn't regret. If his younger brother was going to be an ass to him and then expect Mr. Nice Guy in return, then he definitely did not regret ending a relationship that was going down hill anyways.

"No regrets..." a stuffed whisper left his lips as he bit into his lower lip and tried to turn around in the sheets but realized he was stuck. After a few more tries of wiggling himself out and making worm like movements he stopped and looked up at the ceiling. Sweat running down his forehead and hair strands sticking to it created a disgusting feeling that Ace hated. He watched sun beams being parted by the window shades dance over the ceiling and walls as the summer breeze rustled leaves and garbage outside. He did not regret avoiding his little brother for the last 2 years. He absolutely did not miss talking to him. Luffy is just an annoying brat who doesn't understand anything about responsibilities and taking account for shit that you do. It was always like this, they just weren't meant to be brothers, which they weren't actually. He hated him in fact. Ace managed to grasp a gap in the sheets and propped himself up on the bed. He hated him? No,...no no no no no... did he? Did he hate his step brother? The raven haired boy knotted his eyebrows and gritted his teeth and grabbed a handful of black hair in his hand. A frustrated groan echoed in the empty apartment.

"Ace! Come look! I caught a cicada!" A scrawny raven haired boy with a straw hat he always wore screamed like a wild child as he happily jumped up and down. His red tank top that was pink now from too many washes was blotched with stains from sauces and earth. His knees were scratched to the point of bone showing next and his cheeks were cherry red as he fiddled around with both hands cupping down on the insect.

"Whoa! It's big! Where do you find these?" A figure with messy black hair spoke as he ran towards Luffy. The two jungle children rejoiced as they poked and flung the cicada around their fingers. The freckled kid with messy hair put his hands on his hips as he towered a bit over the other boy, in an attempt to show superiority. They both laughed and turned the cicada on it's stomach and watched it struggle to get up. The sudden soft voice of the huge bell in the town church sounded the ending of morning prayers. The church's bell's voice was quiet up in the mountains where Ace and Luffy played but it was still loud enough for them to hear. Once the last church bell was sounded, Ace threw the insect at a nearby bush and began to race Luffy over to the white 3 storey house that they called their home. Makino, the nice lady that their grandfather had brought home one day, always made breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner at exact times during the day. And what better than food for the two wild kids that only knew how to fight, argue and eat. Running past low branches, leaves flying everywhere, mud splattering past their ankles and Luffy slipping on the wet rocks on their way home. Ace stopping in his tracks and hesitantly looking back as he sees Luffy's bright smile show under the layer of mud and filth on his face. This kind of routine was a repetitive one for them, but they lived everyday as if it wasn't the same. Staggering past the greenery and wilderness of the mountains they found themselves facing the shallow creek that ran before the deep forest of the mountain. Letting the water splash their muddied feet clean they crossed over the glistening creek and continued to walk through the plain field. Weaving grass and foxtails tickled their legs and the sounds of cicadas and grasshoppers littered the scenery. Summer air blew dirty hair strands that contrasted the yellowing plains and pale blue sky, the wind made them aware that they smelled like dirt and sewer water but neither of them minded. It was the smell of summer and it weaved itself in their very being, surely as they grow older they won't ever be able to feel it like they do now. But those thoughts were dispersed when the straw hat wearing brat started racing his older brother once again, letting his childish mannerisms ignore the beauty of the scenery.

"No fair Luffy! You had a head start, That's cheating you ass!" The freckled boy shouted between pants as he soon was ahead of his sibling. Their feet pattered in the summer heat, creating dust clouds behind them as they reached the flower and fruit/veggies garden that spread far and wide. They would have stopped to grab something if they weren't racing, so in a flash they zoomed past the food guard that had been employed there solely because of them. Dragging their hands over the cold metal of the fence at the end of the garden the children took a sharp turn down the road of the town where houses and shops and markets stood for everyone's convenience. There weren't that many people going around in the summer heat so the little brunettes made their way home pretty fast. With dust in their eyes and leaves woven in their messy hair they arrived panting at their front door where a women who

carried the essence of ginger ale with her waited for them. Racing to wash their hands even, they sat themselves on the table with soapy water still dripping off of their palms. Copious amounts of hash browns and soft boiled eggs were served for brunch. Along with marmalade lathered toast and fresh lemonade the three boys stuffed themselves to the brim. The third boy that had his head firmly placed to the table in an attempt to hold himself together, let out a nasty cough and then groaned as he entwined his hand in his blond coils. Another groan exited his mouth and he stared at Makino with his pale blue eyes barely keeping themselves open, she scoffed and ran a wet bubbly sponge over a dirty plate.

"I told you not to play in the creek at night, but nobody listens to me" Makino shook her head as she ran the plate under the warm water from the tap. The two brunette boys looked at their brother and whispered to each other comments that they obviously found funny, taken by the fact that they giggled at every syllable. They laughed even harder when the voice of their dark skinned friend resonated through the house as he poked his long nose through the front door. If Usopp showed up at their house it usually was an invitation to go out and play and the blond boy with his head on the table groaned even louder as he was told to go back to bed.

"I can play with them if they are just playing card games or something!" A protest from the little blond boy made the ever growing number of kids in the house pay attention to him.

"Right?!" Sabo continued to reason himself an excuse to go outside and play even though his nose was practically dripping. With a hand placed firmly to his forehead Makino made a disapproving noise which Sabo took for a good sign.

"What are you guys playing!?" He shouted at the bunch of kids that had collected themselves in their house, pushing against the table once in a while making the plates scratch against one another. His eyes shone with hope for a chance to leave his house for the first time in 3 days. But it was all soon crushed as he saw the grins on his friend's faces.

"WATER BALLOON FIGHT!" Everyone screamed in union and Sabo wanted to throw a fit and beat all of them up for purposely making him bed ridden. Makino placed her hand on his shoulder and escorted him up the stairs to his room as he waved around a middle finger to his friends. After laughing maniacally everyone scattered to get balloons and buckets and the hose from outside.

"Sanji will be on my team, so that leaves Luffy to be on Chopper's team" All of the boys yelled at each other as they began their game. They were all fidgeting with excitement to begin catapulting one another that when Usopp blew the whistle, Luffy got tangled in his limbs and fell flat on the ground. Everyone had armed themselves with backpacks full of water balloons and they all stared down at the easy prey who fell before the game even began. The straw hat boy shook as he attempted to reach for balloons in his backpack but was instead grabbed by a firm hand on his upper forearm.

"What are you doing idiot!" Ace ran as balloons catapulted towards them and the people on their team fled to hiding spots along with them. The two brothers pressed their backs against the hard stone wall of an alley in town and tried to catch their breaths. Ace's hand was still around his younger brother's forearm and it shook from the adrenaline pumping in him. The wind blew stray leaves and dust around the corner and the ecstatic yells of wayward boys could be heard from the plains.

"Listen Luffy" Dilated pupils looked up towards Ace as a drop of sweat rolled itself down Luffy's brow.

"Give me your backpack..." Without another question asked, the smaller boy slid the straps off of his shoulders and placed the heavy backpack in front of Ace. The freckled boy also took off his backpack, after figuring out which backpack was heavier he took it and strapped it on his front. He gave the other one to his younger sibling and then gestured to his back. Luffy grinned in realization.

"Hey hey now-" a water balloon catapulted itself at the back of Usopp's neck. He looked behind to spot Chopper hiding himself behind a wall in a very insufficient way.

"Hey guys-" another balloon hit the ground next to his feet, wetting his skin through his sandals.

"HEY NOW YOU GUYS" a yell exited Usopp as he grabbed two water balloons in both hands. Everyone stopped and looked at him and payed attention as to what he wanted everyone to know so badly. The dark skinned boy squished the balloons in his hands for a while before placing them in front of his chest.

"Do you have any requests for Tsunade-sama today?" He said in a seductive voice that barely contained his giggling. Sanji poked his nose from behind a grubby looking building, grinning like no tomorrow. All the boys had gathered themselves around Usopp, asking him to turn their way and making requests. The balloons were now under his tank top, bright orange and pastel blue showing from either side of the tank top's armpits but nobody cared. A sudden splash that echoed itself in the alley made everyone look towards the grubby building Sanji was hiding behind. The blond boy had now come outside of his hiding spot with his backpack falling off of one shoulder. Chopper sat in front of him, drenched, not like he wasn't before but there was obviously a new addition to his brown shirt. Everyone stared at Sanji, Usopp glared him down while everyone moved forward to their assigned teams. Zoro and Vivi stood behind the garbage cans, Sanji, Usopp and Franky collected themselves near the grubby walls. All the other boys that had joined in to play had respectively collected themselves in their teams of 3, all leaving Chopper wet on the ground. Usopp nudged the blond in the side with his elbow.

"Now why did you have to attack him when he is all alone, this is gives us a bad rep" Sanji looked at his dark skinned friend and raised an eyebrow. "But, I didn't-"

"YA'LL BETTER HAVE NOT FORGOTEN ABOUT US" A holler came out from behind another alley. The pitter patter of feet on the ground could be heard coming closer and closer up until the figure showed up at the end of the alley. Advancing fastly towards the group of boys with their backs to it, it slammed dunked 3 balloons onto them. The figure, which is now shown to be two boys on top of each other, is loaded with two bags of water balloons that are easily accessible for the person on top. Usopp stared in horror and began to run while Franky attempted to go grab his backpack from behind the AceLuffy ultimate duo. Sanji went towards the Zoro and Vivi group and was about to grab Vivi's hand and ditch everyone. He grabbed onto what seemed like a stable wrist while he was looking towards the AL duo. He turned around and began to run, heavy footsteps and a "hey wait a min-" being cut off from behind him. They both hid behind an abandoned destroyed house, with half the walls still intact and a window sill above their heads. Sanji looked over at Vivi, only to discover that Vivi must have gotten one hell of a hair cut.

"You moron what are you doing?!" Sanji nearly face palmed himself through the already broken up wall.

"What do you mean you don't want to come with me?" Ace questioned his little brother who sat on the couch with a phone next to his ear. The smaller male looked up from his assignment and gave a condescending look to his older brother. "I have an assignment to do, you go with Gramps" Luffy said plainly before the person he was calling picked up and Luffy began asking in depth questions about Alexander the Great. "Fine then!" Ace yelled as he closed the door to his room. He looked towards the door behind him and sighed. Yep, he over reacted. To be fair tho, Luffy had 3 weeks to finish that project and he decided to do it at the last minute. Ace threw himself on the bed, his younger sibling knew that they were going to go on a trip to Cuba from a long time ago. He bunched himself up in his blankets and squeezed a yellow egg pillow in his face. He better go and pack up sometime soon, they were leaving in a day.

"Can't he like, finish it by tonight" Ace let out a hopeful ask towards the ceiling. Who was he kidding, the kid couldn't finish it in 3 weeks like hell he was gonna finish in one night. Lately, Ace looked towards his calendar, Lately it feels like we are drifting. It did not help that Ace was gonna pack his bags soon and go. Go where? Well high school of course. Since the nearest one that was somewhat good was in a different state, Ace had no choice but to leave and wait around for Luffy. Which was the core reason that he wanted to spend time with his lil bro before leaving. Ace shuffled himself in his bed and groaned. Why are things so complicated?

"Ace did you pack up?" A muffled hoarse voice came from the closed door, it was Gramps no doubt.

"No not reall-"

"Well start doing that!" He screamed through his door and shuffled his feet towards the staircase leading downstairs. Sometimes Ace like Gramps, except most time Ace wanted to grab Luffy and leave this place. It was old age, he would say in his most professional opinion. He was nice when they were younger, but now it seems like he has gotten bitter and screams a lot more and coughs loudly in his sleep. Certainly a lung cancer that is approaching, Makino has told him thousands of times to quit those goddamn cigarettes. Ace sniffed his sleeve. It's like the smoke got into anything and everything. This was a happy house, it still is, but it's so much different. The walls cave in sometimes at night, whispering hateful words at all of their residents. The windows scream in high pitched voices at night, almost as if mocking all those days where Luffy would sit in his room and cry throughout the nights in high pitched sobs. Gramps would be knocking on his door and swearing about how unmanly Luffy was being.

This house used to be white pristine walls, soft boiled eggs and hasbrowns during summer mornings. Now it's yellow wallpaper peeling back to show dark mold, the smell of smoke everywhere. The hasbrowns this morning were burned like always.

It's not like Ace hated this house. No not really, the childhood memories in here are irreplaceable. It's more like he despised what it has turned into, how it's bare and hollow now. It's like all the love flew out one day, Ace closed his eyes, he knew which day. A giant ass circle marked the date on the calendar, he was glad that he was going to leave for Cuba on it. He probably couldn't handle being in this place he has called home for the last 14 years.

A/N.

Dude it's 4:42 am what am I doing. I have exams and shit and what I have decided to do is write fucking fanfics instead. My life style is so insufficient. Well here is the re-write, hope you guys like it!