The day was slowly coming to an end. The sunset colored the sky in a beautiful crimson red.
And with the end of the day, the last stragglers left the driveway and crossed the bridge. But the gates remained open waiting together with Garp for something. Waiting for someone. And at last it appeared. A black bike traversed by red strings and a man dressed in the same red and black colors riding it. The bike slowed and came to a stop before Garp.
"Long time no see gramps!" Came a muffled voice from underneath the helmet.
"I would like to say the same, but I can't see who I'm talking to." Garp replied dryly.
"Ha-ha-ha. True. Sorry about that gramps." The biker took of his helmet.
"Better now?"
"Yes quite. If my old eyes are not deceiving me, the grown up young man before me is indeed my grandson."
Luffy smiled his characteristic wide grin and got of the bike to give the grumpy bear a big hug.
"You're never getting old gramps."
Garp laughed roaringly.
"Let's head inside. As I know you, you are probably hungry."
"You read my mind!" Luffy beamed.
The two walked toward the Polaris while chatting away. They had much to say and nothing at the same time, but it has been too long and both wanted to enjoy the company of the other.
"So the little rascal is finally going to college. I bet Dragon would be proud."
"Yeah, I bet my parents are." Luffy smiled up at the sky.
"Be sure to finish college though..I want at least to see my grandson graduate it."
They both laughed at that. Over the years it has become less and less painful to talk about the past and such sayings have become insider jokes between them already.
"Shall we party like no tomorrow today? Since you were able to enroll here and all."
"Pfft. Please gramps. I don't mind a feast but my enrolling didn't actually come as a surprise. My grandfather is the chairman. I always expected to eventually land here. And just about anybody else with me."
"True, true. But you didn't use me to come here. You were the top graduate at your high school! That was a pleasant surprise by the way."
"This bike was a pleasant surprise for me by the way too. Thanks gramps. I thought I would have to save money for another year to buy it."
Garp looked at the said bike with a frown.
"Couldn't think of anything else you wanted. Sides you're as stubborn as your late dad, so... Just promise me to drive carefully on that devilish machine."
"Sure thing. And you know, I have a higher chance to get injured during karate practice than on a drive."
Garp hummed something underneath his breath and shrugged.
"At least I know you can stand you ground."
"Yeah! I sure can. Wanna test it out?"
Garp grinned in return and delivered his 'Fist of Love'.
"Owwww..." Luffy howled, rubbing his head. He send a offended glance toward his old man.
"Your own fault. You're about hundred years to early to have a trial of strength with me."
"Yeah, yeah.."
Later that night the two man started to fall asleep over the music, the food and the drinks.
Really, time flies by and since their encounter at the police station fourteen years have passed. Their meeting on that sad day made their loss a little more bearable. Garp took Luffy in and raised him the best he could. But he was holding many positions, tasks and responsibilities that required his presence. Luffy made it easy on him and left for a boarding school. He would come to visit his grandfather for a month every half year on the island during vacation and Garp would come to visit him in between sometimes.
Garp easily accepted that because it was like that before with Dragon too. Most children of the rich have to leave home or have a governess hired to raise them since their parents were busy most of the time. Luffy was lonely a lot in the beginning. His parents dead and pulled from the side of his new won grandfather. But it wasn't in his nature to be lonely and sad. He found friends and learned to stand on his own two feet very early.
His best friend, Usopp, would be attending Sabaody college too. It was time to introduce the 20 year old into high society too. His birthday would present the perfect chance for that too.
But right now none of the two thought about the future. They thought about the past and the time they spend together since then. They reminiscent of happy times and let those memories lull them to sleep.