Title: Forever and Ever!
Rating: T (rating may change)
Warning: Slight cursing, mentions of bromance (brotherly romance)
Pairings: Portgas D. Ace/Monkey D. Luffy
Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to 尾田 栄一郎先生! (Eiichiro Oda-sensei) and the cover image is not mine!
Prologue: Old Promises
Ace and Luffy are close knitted siblings. So you could imagine their agony and disapproval when their dad decided to split them up for 'the better good'.So here's the deal; As the oldest child, Ace was destined to be the next heir of the family company. And consequently, he was pushed a lot by his father, having forced to learn all the stuff he doesn't even understand yet. He remembered starting to learn how to be responsible and all of that. But he didn't think it was that important.
Well, until that incident occurred.
When he was 10 years old, he was given a choice to choose between keeping his promise with Luffy to take him to the park, or to play at his friend's house (which has lots of cool new games, hella). Ace thought he could see Luffy everyday, so he chooses the later. What he didn't know is that Luffy had been waiting for Ace that whole afternoon till night, in the freaking park, and people panicked while they searched for the little guy. After he was found, Luffy ended up crying 'cause Ace had broken their promise. Luffy didn't speak to him that whole evening.
"Making promises are trivial Ace," his father spoke to him after the incident. "What's important is keeping them." his father finished with a pat on his head. Ace then learned how awfully serious trust is, and how easy you could lose it. Though, the next day Luffy was glomping onto him again like nothing happened. Sure, the younger siblings might've forgive him, but Ace never wanted to disappoint his brother ever again.
Well, until they part ways, that is.
Ace was forcefully taken away from his baby brother at the age of 15. Their father wanted Ace to be trained immediately so he could take his place when he graduated high school in the big city. "It's for the best," said his father, packing their belongings. Ace was furious at this. It wasn't fair. He didn't have a fucking say in this!
And worse of all, he was going to be separated from Luffy. His brother, his best buddy, the raze of sunshine he had after their mother had passed away.
"What about Luffy?" was the only question that he'd asked again and again, wanting to make sure that his little bro would be alright.
His father let out a deep sigh, "Look, Ace, I know you care a lot about him. But I assure you, he's in good hands with grandpa Garp." he slowly said, reassuring Ace that Luffy would be much better off here with their grandpa.
Okay, so Ace is going to live with his father to study in becoming the next successor. While Luffy is going to stay with their grandfather, living his life like a normal teenager. The good thing is, Ace was happy that Luffy's going to grow up as a normal, happy, carefree child...
...Yeah, that's definitely a lie. He doesn't want to leave him alone. Well, sure there are many people besides Ace that cares about the little rascal. But Ace was the only one who knows him from the day he's born. How would he take care of himself? Will anyone know what his favorite game is? Or his favorite meat? Or the fact that he's afraid of the thunder!?
Heck, he feels like Luffy's mom for god sakes!
He slumped to the wall in defeat, internally cursing. 'Shit.' Nothing could prevent them from their separation. "Pack your stuff kid, no delay," the old man sharply said. Hearing this, Ace glared at his father for being a big 'ol meanie and went to get all his stuffs back at his room—
"H-huuu..." the freckeled teen was surprised when he sees the sight behind the door. It was Luffy, who was eavesdropping the entire time, with puffed and teary looking eyes. And the sight makes Ace's stomach feel funny.
"L-luffy..?" he said, speechless.
"Quickly boy, we're going to leave early morning tomorrow." He could hear his father- 'Oh no, no, no, not now. Please not now..!' "And try to avoid your brother while you can, he wouldn't let you leave- ..Oh, Luffy."
'Oh God no.'Luffy definitely didn't have to hear that.
The younger of the siblings begins to sob, "L-leave...? Niichan..?" the younger siblings said, looking at his big brother in confusion. Those big innocent brown eyes filled with...fear? Shock? Dissapointment? Whatever it is, it breaks Ace's heart into millions of pieces. He opened his mouth, but he couldn't talk. Words just doesn't seem to come out of him.
"Luffy, your big brother is going on a trip with me," their father said, "He'll be back before you know it." he continued, patting Luffy by his shoulder before he went to the kitchen for food supplies.
'Heck yeah, what a liar.' Ace snorted. Now, about Luffy...
Before he could even do anything, he was tackled to the ground with a poweful force. His head hitting the door and his body felt heavy. Of course, Luffy had already glomped onto him like usual. But this time, he held onto Ace like he never wants to let go. "Aaaceee, don't gooo!" Luffy cried loudly into Ace's chest, sobs, snots, and tears colliding into one.
"...Hey, it's okay, I'll be home quicker than you know," he lied, comforting the sobbing mess on top of him. And Luffy's breathing actually calmed down for a tinsy bit. So this is why his dad was lying. It's to comfort him, even though Ace didn't like lying.
Sorry Luffy, I had to lie to you...
After that, Luffy won't let go of him. Wherever he went, Luffy was always beside him, his eyes ready to burst out of tears everytime Ace mentions about 'leaving' and such. That night, Luffy sleeps in Ace's bed, not wanting to part with him even when he's asleep. The older sibling smiled, caressing his brother's forehead.
As his eyes were about to rest, he heard the younger sibling mumbled his name, "Ace...d-don't leave me...please..." a soft whimper and a painful sob could be heard. Ace could only tighten his hug. He too, doesn't want to leave him. Silently, tears started escaping from the freckled teen's eyes. And the two fell asleep with puffed eyes, and in each other's tight embrace.
Honestly, I don't wanna leave too, bro...
When morning came, he didn't have the guts to wake Luffy up. He just couldn't. As mean as it seems, he just can't bear to look at his brother's broken eyes. He's scared of disappointing Luffy even more. So he left the room without a sound. He ate breakfast with his father quietly, both him and his father thought that it would be best to leave while Luffy was sleeping.
Ace was surprised when he was greeted with his closest group of people outside the house. His sworn brother Sabo and his 'friend' Koala, his caretaker Makino, and there was his grandfather too. They said their goodbyes and not a moment later he heard a shrieking scream.
"ACEEEE!"
'Oh shit!' Ace's face paled.
"Dude, what the heck was that?" Sabo looked around in confusion. Ace just shrugged, "D-dunno," he tried to stay calm. His father nodded when he glanced at him and he bid his farewell to the close knitted group.
He quickly went inside the car and sighed in relief when the car starts. "To the city, Marco," his father said to the driver, Marco, or so he called. A guy with...a rather funny looking hair.'But boy, this guy looks though...' Ace thought when he looked at the man's face from the rear-view mirror.
"ACEEEEE!" he flinched at his name being called.
"Should I stop, sir?" the pineapple head asked. A sigh from the older man, "No, please continue the trip," he sternly said, gazing at the paled-looking Ace.
'Okay, calm the heck down. Okay. Don't look back!'Even if he tried, he wouldn't dare to look at his brother's face. He could do this. He won't look back, and he won't cry.
"ACE YOU DUMMY!" Ace flinched at the piercing scream. "YOU PROMISED ME!" his eyes widen, mouth gawking at his brother's words.
He was...breaking his promise with Luffy again?
Ace twisted his head, only to be stoped by a hand. "Ace don't," his father sternly said. At that moment he wanted to punch and screamed at his dad. Rage filled his eyes. But the rage and anger washes away after he heard the old man softly whispered to him.
"It would make parting a lot harder. Trust me."
And so he ignored his brother's desperate screams. He let out a deep breath and calmed his elaborated breathing. He musn't cry. 'Luffy is in good hands here in Fuchsia Village.' Ace said to himself. Held his face high, looking straight forward.
He was ready to the city. He was ready to learn. He was ready for anything.
And he was going to see Luffy again.
Don't worry, Luffy. I'll be back soon.
I promise!
A/N:
Hey guys, thank you so much for reading this! Review and critics are very welcomed here! And for a bonus, you could even write down your favorite pairing for me to put in this story~
Again, thank you for your attention!
Love, Tocie-chan❣
(24/06/2015) - Oh, hey guys! You may notice that I have edited some things in the story rite? Sorry 'bout that hehe... It's just, well, when I made this some weeks ago, it was actually 2 days before some holly-crap-important test! XD So excuse the delay and edit and such heehee..
-Tocie :''3