Here is the second chapter for all of you! Thank you very much for the reviews and support! Reading your reviews had really made me even more pumped up. I'll try my best to update this fic in my best abilities.
On another note, if there are any special scenes that you want to request in this fic, you could either state it on your review or PM me and I will see if I could make it a part/a whole chapter out of it!
The people whom Little-Ace and Little-Luffy had requested for help was Dadan, Makino and the bandits. Even though Little-Luffy thought of getting the villagers since the village was nearer compared to Dadan's hut, Little-Ace preferred not to have as many people to know about this strange occurrence as possible. At least Little-Ace knew that he could trust Dadan, Makino and the other bandits to keep this a secret while helping them to work this whole thing out.
Little-Ace was only halfway to believing what Ace had said though.
When Dadan and Makino were tending to Ace and Luffy, they couldn't help but notice the obvious similar appearances to Little-Ace and Little Luffy, much to the former kid's denials. It was awkward to be facing the adult versions of the little brats Dadan was so used to taking care of but when Luffy opened his mouth, she immediately felt a lot more familiar. But whoever when Ace did, Dadan's head was full of doubts. Little-Ace had never sounded so polite in his life!
Meanwhile, they told Dadan and Makino most of what they had gone through with them before the both of them left the village for their dreams. They decided to skip the part whereby Ace was captured and almost died in Marineford since they didn't want to cause Little-Luffy to cry again.
"At least it's safe to know that you have improved on your manners quite a bit," Dadan muttered as she cleaned up the used bandages on the floor. "But sadly, you are still causing trouble everywhere." And that was obviously the tone of a proud mother.
Ace chuckled. "Thanks. I appreciate the compliment."
"Brat, you are starting to make me feel uncomfortable."
"Deal with it, idiot."
Dadan gave him a smirk. "Now we're talking."
Makino giggled at them and sat down on the spot beside Luffy. "So before the both of you left the village, you guys got together without us knowing, right? It's adorable but I wonder how you could manage to keep it secret."
"Ace promised me lots of meat!" Luffy chirped up.
"Right." Makino didn't doubt that the tactic had worked. It was what Dadan usually used sometimes to encourage Little-Luffy to do his chores when she happened to be in a good mood. "What are you going to do from now? You can't stay here if you don't want Garp to find out about this…"
Garp was definitely the last person all of them would want to know about this situation. One was that he would probably beat the crap out of Ace and Luffy for throwing their lives into piracy. Next would be that he would forcefully drag the fully grown adults to the Marines and it was scary that they had speculated that Garp would actually succeed in doing so. If the second one fails then Garp would just keep trying until even Dadan would pull out her own hair.
Because whenever Garp visits, the renovation bills just added itself on her table.
And did anyone seriously think that Garp would take responsibility for breaking the house? No.
"We could stay in the Gray Terminal if the inspections are over," Ace suggested.
"Yes it is. Oh, and if it won't be much trouble-What am I saying, this is going to give you hell but take those brats along with you as well," Dadan requested as she motioned to Little-Ace and Little-Luffy. "Take it as an exchange for keeping you two a secret."
It wasn't that she wanted to chase them out of her house or anything but she understood how it was for them whenever Garp made a visit. Plus, it would be good if they would get to know their adult selfs more since they had always admired and dreamt of being pirates for as long as Dadan could remember. At the same time, Dadan would be able to save up on renovation bills and everyone would be happy.
"Oi! Don't make these kinds of decisions on your own!" Little-Ace snapped.
Except for him.
Little-Luffy pouted and tugged onto Little-Ace's shirt. "Eh? Why not? It would be so much fun staying with them! I've so many questions to ask my adult self and didn't we planned to stay at Gray Terminal before?"
"Lu, listen to me. They are not-"
"Alright! We'll do it!" Luffy interjected excitedly, making Little-Luffy perked up as well. "This is going to be so much fun!"
Ace glanced at his younger self who was trying his best not to hit Luffy over the head while chuckling on the inside. As much as Little-Ace had tried to convince everyone that he didn't believe in what they said, his attitude towards Luffy so far proved that he didn't completely disregard them. Ace knew that Little-Ace had saw Luffy as the Little-Luffy that he loved and thus couldn't bring himself to become too harsh.
Wait, what would Dadan say to Garp when he found his grandsons missing?
When the negotiations were over, the four of them immediately headed to Gray Terminal to check the place out. Despite Makino's attempts to get Ace and Luffy to rest first, it was an impossible feat when Luffy and Little-Luffy had already became this excited about staying at the place they had always wanted to. Ace and Little-Ace were trotting behind them quietly while the two in front wasn't really being as secretive as they should.
Well, if anything happens, Ace would just have to burn someone depending on the person they encountered.
Soon, they had finally found a plausible spot to make with. Even though everything around them was nothing but garbage and junk, there were a few huge pillars and other materials that could be used to build a temporary shelter. Ace had considered making a small hut but it might attract unwanted attention. Makino, Dadan and the bandits had agreed to provide them with necessities until Ace and Luffy-most probably only Ace found some sort of job.
"Alright. I'm going to start moving the pillars," Ace announced as he started to stretch his arms.
"You hadn't fully recovered," Luffy pointed out.
"I'm doing a lot better than before so don't worry. I'll try not to over-exert myself like some idiot," he teased while patting on the top of Luffy's head affectionately. "The two of you stay near Lu," he instructed to the little kids.
While Ace was moving the pillars, Little-Luffy couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration when he saw how strong Ace was. And his excitement only increased when Luffy had helped out with the arrangement with his literally stretched out hands while not moving from the spot at all. Little-Ace was still in quite a sour mood and it only became worse when Little-Luffy's attention had been solely on their adult selfs.
"There. This looks okay," Ace remarked while observing their work.
"You guys are really strong!" Little-Luffy exclaimed.
"Shishishi! Of course we are."
Little-Ace let out an irritated sigh and started to walk away from them while simply saying, "I'm going for a walk."
Little-Luffy looked at Little-Ace in confusion at his sudden change of behavior which had been there ever since they found the two adults on the beach. "Ah, wait! Ace! I'm going with you too!" he called out as he ran after his sworn brother.
"What's with him-I mean, you?" Luffy asked in confusion.
"I think I have an idea," Ace replied and chuckled softly while wrapping his arms around Luffy's waist to pull him closer. "You always had been oblivious."
"Huh? What are you saying?"
Ace felt tempted to roll his eyes at Luffy but decided against it and brought Luffy down with him to sit underneath the shelter they had built. For some reason, they felt very much like a family now. Maybe Luffy wouldn't feel that way since he had never thought of experiencing the role of an adult in a family while Ace had been pondering on it during numerous times while they were still apart from each other in the seas.
"I'm saying that you're an idiot."
"Oh-Hey!"
"My idiot."
Ace then guided Luffy's chin with his fingers to face him and planted another sweet kiss on Luffy's lips once again. Despite being insulted earlier, Luffy seemed contented with this and closed his eyes to enjoy their peace after going through a turmoil called life.
"Ace! Ace! Wait for me!" Little-Luffy called out while trying not to stumble over any little rocks lying around.
Little-Ace unintentionally ignored Little-Luffy as he was still in his land of rage and jealously over the adults who had easily gained Little-Luffy's attention. First it was Shanks and now the both of them had popped out of nowhere. It seemed as though the world was plotting against him or something although he did felt a little stupid for being jealous over… himself. Still, Little-Luffy had never shown much interest in anyone else other than the adults mentioned and of course, Little-Ace himself.
It was then he heard a cry of pain behind him that finally snapped him out of his world.
"Lu!" Little-Ace called out when he realized that Little-Luffy had tripped over in his haste. Had he followed Little-Ace? "Are you alright?" he asked in concern after moving to Luffy's side.
"A-Ace was ignoring me," Little-Luffy mumbled sadly while trying his best not to cry.
"I-I'm sorry. And I wasn't ignoring you… I didn't know that you were following me," Little-Ace admitted as he inspected on Little-Luffy's wounds. It was good that it didn't go anywhere beyond a nasty scratch on his knees. "It didn't look too bad. Let's get back so that we can deal with this."
Little-Ace stood in front of Little-Luffy with his back turned towards him and bent down a little so that Little-Luffy could get onto his back. When he did, he tucked his arms beneath Little-Luffy's hips and lifted him up in a piggyback ride. Little-Luffy was very light and mostly made of rubber so Little-Ace had never have any trouble carrying him over long distances. While Little-Ace was walking slowly back, so as to prevent more pain for Little-Luffy, the younger one was biting his lips nervously.
"Why is Ace angry…?"
"…I'm not angry."
"You're lying. I can obviously tell that you're lying," Little-Luffy pointed out with a pout, feeling somewhat belittled that Little-Ace would think that Little-Luffy wouldn't notice. "What's wrong with you? You had been acting weird ever since our adult selfs arrived."
Little-Ace sighed when he knew that he couldn't keep it from Little-Luffy anymore-he would just pester him for the truth anyway. "I'm just… you seemed so much happier with them."
Blinking in confusion, Little-Luffy tilted his head sideways in an attempt to look at Little-Ace's facial expressions better. "Huh? They're really strong but I still don't get why Ace is angry. What does that have to do with it?"
"I just though that you are happier with them than me," Little-Ace mumbled.
Little-Luffy was somewhat taken aback by Little-Ace's confession before he started to laugh at him. "Silly Ace! I love Ace the most in the world!" Little-Luffy replied. "I would never choose anyone other than Ace to be with!"
"Y-Yeah, I know," he said while trying to fight down the embarrassment that was growing within him. "I just got a little irritated and that's all."
"I love you, Ace," Little-Luffy said while Little-Ace had probably figured that Little-Luffy wouldn't know how much impact those three words could truly make. The younger one stretched himself up a little and planted a soft kiss on the freckled cheek before letting out a small giggle after breaking apart.
Little-Ace blushed and turned his head away slightly so that Little-Luffy couldn't see it. He had been quite silly as well for getting worked up over such a small matter. He had long knew that Little-Luffy wouldn't throw him aside for anyone else. Even with Shanks, he had heard from the man that Little-Luffy had been talking about him throughout the time-which made him feel a swell of pride within him. The kid really knew how to make Little-Ace felt great.
Maybe someday he would return those words to him after he could get over his own awkwardness…
But in the meantime…
"How many times do I have to tell you idiots to get a room?!"
