AN: *crawls forth from the abiss* I..I live! The semester is done and I passed ever'thing so here have a chapter! (I apologize in advanced for the following things: fillerishness and possibly OOC D's). Anyway I am SO FUCKING SORRY YOU HAVE NO IDEA that this took so long. T_T Please accept some Garp and Luffy interaction as a bribe not to hate me.
_

As Garp watched his youngest grandson torment the rookies again and again, he found that for the first time in his life, he regretted something. He had always dreamed of the day his rubber brained grandchild gave up the piracy dream to join him in the ranks, and had pushed the boy almost mercilessly to do so.

Apparently Luffy retained more of that ordeal than he let on.

The dark haired youth had already showed a prowess for strategy and the ability to be ruthless if need be. And he damn well knew how to survive.

But since joining the old man in the ranks, Luffy had stopped smiling and seemed all around darker. Garp didn't know his youngest had it in him to be such a strict individual. He had always figured that Luffy's bubbly personality would carry through to the Marines, not disappear completely.

Maybe it was the resentment of being ripped from his crew or the final showing of a long dormant hatred for his grandfather (which, sadly, the man didn't doubt).

What Garp feared the most about his grandson's new demeanor though, was that it was simply the birth of who Luffy really was; that the smiles and laughs and childish behavior were really a cover up for this darker frame of mind.

So far in the months that he had been here, Luffy had already made a name for himself as someone not to cross. He'd sent six of the lower ranked Marine's to the infirmary, scared two into quitting, and made one of the other captains cry with just an angry glance.

Sure, the boy had a reputation as a pirate, but he'd always returned to being cheerful once the danger had passed. That had yet to happen.

Garp had started to debate calling off the whole plan just so he could have his real grandson back, but being the stubborn and prideful old fart he was, decided against it. He really did enjoy having one of his boys finally join him in the business.

With a sigh, the Vice-Admiral shooed the thoughts from his mind and went to find Luffy. It was about two in the afternoon, which meant the boy was either training, or eating.

Garp bet on the latter and headed for the mess hall in the middle of their base.

As predicted, he found him seated at a table in the back, inhaling a slab or twelve of meat and looking quite bored. He inwardly groaned as he approached the table and thought about the conversation he was about to have.

"Luffy," he called, "I need to have a word with you."

The ex-pirate looked up from his meal, "Yeah Gramps?"

Luffy didn't look too pleased to be facing the old man, but Garp continued anyway.

"You're not happy here, are you?"

The youth scoffed, "What gave it away?"

The older man glared half-heartedly, "Don't be a smart ass, boy, I'm serious."

Luffy sighed, mentally acknowledging how that seemed to happen a lot lately, before answering.

"I don't know, old man. I hate being here, especially under these circumstances, but at the same time…."

"What is it boy?"

"At the same time, I like it."

Garp's eyes widened. He certainly hadn't been expecting that answer.

"Care to elaborate?"

Luffy seemed to fumble with his words for a moment, "Um…well, I hate to admit it, but being a Marine is kind of fun. People listen to ya here, and I have yet to get punched in the head by someone…."

The old man laughed, "I suppose that is a nice change for you. Take a walk with me, Luffy."

The young captain hesitated, "You're gonna punch me just so I can't say that anymore."

"I PUNCH YOU WITH LOVE! Now get up and let's go."

Luffy didn't say anything else, but rose from the table and followed his elder out the door. They walked in silence for a while before coming to a stop at the edge of town, near the bay. Luffy saw his ship calmly sitting in the water, as if teasing him to come home.

"Gramps, am I really doing the right thing here?" He asked.

"Of course! You're a big strong Marine now!"

"That's not what I mean."

Garp watched his grandson run a hand through his trimmed hair in frustration, but didn't answer him. He didn't have to, because Luffy just continued talking.

"I-I feel like such a traitor. And they're right. The danger is part of being a pirate," he looked to the older man, "But is it so wrong of me to want to try to keep them out of it anyway?"

"No, boy, it's not. Even when you were younger you carried an air of loyalty about you, and a fierce protectiveness to back it up."

"But my friends…you didn't see their faces grandpa…"

"Maybe not, but I don't need to have to know that you all share a great care for each other. I know you may not believe me, but I do love you, Luffy, and I am proud of you. I just want you to be happy."

Luffy gave him a skeptical look, "Yes, because trying to kill your grandson on multiple occasions is the best way to show him that you love him."

Garp frowned, "I did not try to kill you, brat! I WAS TRYING TO TURN YOU INTO A STRONG MARINE."

Luffy frowned back, "You're a mean old man, you know that?"

He was promptly met with a Fist of Love.

"Owwww! YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T GONNA DO THAT YOU ASSHOLE."

"DON'T CALL YOUR GRANDFATHER AN ASSHOLE YOU BRAT."

As Luffy continued to nurse his new concussion, Garp couldn't help but smile that for just a second, his youngest grandson was back to normal.

"Oi, Luffy," he said after a minute.

The boy sniffed, "What?"

"Don't tell your brother, but you're my favorite."

Luffy stiffened at the mention of Ace, and smiled grimly up at the gray-haired D.

"Don't let Ace hear you say that. He's gonna be pissed enough about this as it is."

Garp's face fell, and he let out a yell then, screaming for the ranks to start fire proofing the base. As he ran off, he smiled to himself.

Maybe Luffy would be fine after all.
_

AN: omgwhotaughtluffysarcasmwhat

*sigh* Forgive me yet? No? That's okay I still love you all ;u;.

Also what the fuck happened to my style.