Luffy yelled happily as he jumped into the air spiking the volley ball into the gym floor, his team rushing forward to congratulate him on the winning point. His smile grew larger as Nami smiled back at him. Even though he wasn't attracted to her she was still a good friend of his and he didn't want to lose that. His friends were everything to him. He bounced over to the bleachers happily, his friends in tow behind him talking to each other, happy that the gang was back together. Plopping down into a crouch in front of the bleacher he looked around feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He looked up as a large teen followed by a few others entered the gym, his nose wrinkled while his brows furrowed. Moria, Krieg, and Kuro were the lead 'stars' of the team and each of them had a bad attitude, Moria caught sight of the lanky teen and elbowed Krieg in the ribs lightly nodding in Luffy's direction. Instantly Luffy was on his feet defensive; confrontations between the the older teens and Luffy's 'gang' wasn't rare and happened often. Fists clenched he stood in front of Nami and Robin who had scooted closer to one another behind the lanky teen. Chancing a glance back at the two girls he nodded to them and they sprang from their seats and headed for the girl's locker room. Moria advanced on Luffy, his thick arms crossed over his chest, a cocky grin spreading over his features.
"Well, what have we here? A lost monkey."
Luffy squared his shoulders not giving them the satisfaction of an answer, he looked straight ahead not meeting any of their gazes as the three chuckled. Luffy ground his teeth together as Moria grabbed the front of Luffy's school uniform and yanked him forward, the muscles in Luffy's neck straining as he held back the temper threatening to spill forth. He couldn't afford to get into any more fights with the larger teens, and just as he was debating whether or not it was worth it a voice rang through the gym making all other activity stop.
"Get your fucking hands off my brother!"
Krieg smiled wickedly and turned to face the older of the brothers.
"Puma D. Ace, how nice of you to join us."
Luffy kept his face calm as Ace stalked forward, Frankie, Sanji, and Zoro following suit not far behind. The players faltered for a moment before regaining their composure and gave their own cocky smiles as Moria hoisted Luffy off the hard wood floor and into the air a few inches. Feeling his weight shift he growled as a large fist planted its self into his stomach cutting the growl off in his throat as air left him, Luffy felt tears prick his eyes as he gasped for air, his body screaming in rejection at the abuse it had taken. Moria laughed as Luffy gagged trying to breath and looked up into Ace's eyes seeing the murder intent there, but also in the eyes of the other three yound men that flanked him.
"Catch."
He threw Luffy easily and laughed as the younger brother landed in a gasping heap at his brother's feet, Ace neither moved or looked down at his brother; as Sanji and Zoro scooped him up and pulled him behind Ace, Frankie stepping up to stand beside him.
"What's the matter Ace? Are you just gonna let me walk away after doing that to your baby brother?"
Ace put his right foot forward and halted as Luffy's gasping voice sounded behind him.
"Ace, leave it. Let's just get out of here."
Cracking his knuckles Ace nodded and spun around taking his brother from his two friends and slung his arm around his shoulder and promptly walked away from the teens that were mocking him behind his back. After getting his little brother to the nurses office and looked at she had left and dimmed the lights allowing Luffy to get some rest. Ace held his hand tightly looking down at the teen frowning.
"Why didn't you fight back Lu? You could have easily kicked their asses."
"We can't afford to get into anymore fights Ace, you know that."
Ace ran his other hand over his face letting out an explosive sigh.
"Your right, I know your right. I just can't stand seeing them act like they can push you around Lu. And I know that they can't"
"I know big brother, but it's okay. As long as we know it's okay."
Ace let his head drop onto the mattress next to his brother and nodded.

Ace found him self blessing all the gods known to human kind that it was the end of the day and once again walked behind Luffy and his friends listening to them babble about the day, a smile creeping to his features. He watched Luffy bounce from friend to friend talking about the events when a slight buzz from his pocket made him jump. Slipping his phone from his pocket he looked at the number and frowned.
RED...Shanks....
Ace frowned and flipped the small Samsung phone open and spoke into it falling back slightly so that the others wouldn't over hear.
"Hello?"
"Puma, I tried calling the house earlier. I'm in town I was hoping to drop by and see you and Lu."
Ace listened intently to the next words that came from the red headed man.
"I was going to see if Lu had changed his mind about traveling with me."
Ace felt his chest tighten, Luffy loved adventure and he was being tempted ever few months with the visit of the other man, it scared him to think that he could lose his brother in a flash just like that.
"We're on our way home from school now, meet us at the house."
"Got it! See you than Ace!"
The phone went silent and Ace looked up as Zoro and Sanji headed for the restaurant where Sanji worked, wait...they had gone together?! What was wrong with this picture? He met Luffy's pace and kept up with him easily as they headed back to the house.
"Oi, Lu. I have to tell you something..."
"What is it Ace?"
"Shanks is in town-"
"Shanks!? Really? Is he gonna come and see us Ace?!"
Ace pulled Luffy to a hault a few blocks away from the house and looked down at him frowning.
"Lu, he's gonna ask you to go with him again...he wants you to go and travel with him."
Luffy looked at the ground his face set in a scowl as he thought about what Ace had just told him.
"If you go, that's your choice Lu...it's completely up to you....I won't hold you back."
Luffy took Ace's hand and squeezed it hard almost making the older brother's eyes water from the tightness of the grip.
"I won't leave you behind Ace, I'm staying with you."
Ace felt as if his heart was going to beat it's way out of his chest and into his throat. Luffy pulled him down the road towards the house and as they rounded the corner Luffy released his hand and bounded up to the red haired man that could have easily passed as Luffy's father, had it not been for the said mop of dingy red hair. Ace shook his head as Shanks caught the flexible, laughing fool that happened to be his brother, and, with a slight blush, the love of his life.


Zoro sat at the table by the back of the lounge listening to Sanji yelling at the head chef, he lifted his feet and placed them on the table and crossed his arms over his chest and waited closing his eyes and letting him self fall into his usual lazy stupor.
"-Why the hell not old man?!"
"Because I said so Lil' Eggplant, I'm head chef and I say you don't deserve a night off!"
"C'mon, this is bullshit!"
Zoro winced inwardly as the sound of a boot colliding with the flesh of a cheek sounded from the kitchen, after a few more minutes of yelling a a few more sickening crunches of blows being exchanged Sanji emerged from the kitchen, his lip bleeding and his left cheek bruised. He looked down at Zoro as he took a cigarette from his pack and lit it taking a long drag and letting it out in a thin, steady stream.
"Let's go Marimo, I have tonight and that's it."
Zoro let a smile spread across his face as he vaulted over the table and took hold of Sanji's hand and all but drug the blond from the building. Zeff smiled from the kitchen door watching as Sanji protested the entire time, but the smile on the younger man's face told him he was happier than he had been in a while. Shaking his head at the antics of his adoptive son he retreated back into the kitchen, his voice ringing through the lounge.
"Patty, Carne! Pick up the pace! Sanji's out for the night so we have to work double time!"
Two voices sounds simultaneously.
"Yes head chef!"

"WHAT!"
Ace stood at the table, his hands on the table and his face red with aggravation.
"Garp! He's coming here?!"
Luffy's face had paled dramatically, his eyes wide at Ace's anger, but in an instant the look was gone and his eyes shone with a bright Innocent light.
"Gramps is coming! YAY!"
Shanks and Ace both groaned and ran their hands through their hair shaking their heads at Luffy's antics, as Luffy bounded through the house chanting 'Gramps' over and over. Ace looked over at Shanks as the man took a sip of beer from the bottle.
"So is that why you came?"
"That, and to fruitlessly see if your brother would come with me."
Ace looked over as Luffy took the prized straw hat that Shanks had given him as a child off it's perch above the tv and put it on his head continuing his tirade through the small house.
"I doubt it Shanks."
"Yeah, me too, he's connected to you to much. It would take alot to pry him off of you. He's always been that way. Since as far back as I can remember."
Ace smiled and nodded as Luffy jumped on the couch holding the straw hat in place, a huge smile plastered onto his young features. Ace let a smile grace him as well and looked back at Shanks.
"When?"
"I'm not sure, sometime in the next month or so. Just be ready Puma. I hear Luffy's fight record reached him. He's none to happy about it."
Ace nodded and sighed as the clock chimed it's late hour.
"You bedding here or hotel?"
"Hotel. I should get going. I'll see you guys again before I leave."
Luffy bounded over and wrapped his arms and legs around Shanks tightly seeming to strech so he was around the man like a straight jacket.
"Bye Shanks!"
"Take care Lu, Ace, keep him out of trouble!"
Ace waved at him as he walked away from the house and closed locking the door, he jumped as Luffy's arms wound around his waist.
"Ne, Ace. Bed time?"
Ace nodded placing his hands on Luffy's and giving them a squeeze, he spun around and caught Luffy's lips with his own humming into the other boys mouth causing his teeth to chatter making him giggle. Luffy broke away and smiled. Releasing Ace they headed for the room they now shared and curled up on the bed holding each other.