Thanks Vergina-spva for beta'ing and MyLadyDay for the encouragement.
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Sabo asked for the umpteenth time.
"Yes, I told you, Koala can have my ticket," Ace replied.
"But are you sure?" Sabo pressed. "Last time, when the match was sold out, you were pretty disappointed."
"Well, you know," Ace gestured vaguely with his hand, "I have plans. And I'm sure Koala will enjoy the match as much as I would."
"Of course. Who doesn't love watching men in short shorts beat the crap out of each other," Koala said, lying on the couch as she leafed lazily through a magazine.
Both Sabo and Ace turned towards her. "I honestly cannot tell if you're being sarcastic right now," Ace said. The look she gave him did not help in the slightest.
Sabo turned back to Ace, sighing deeply as he crossed his arms before his chest. "I know you're going out with your so called 'friends'. When do we get to meet them?"
Ace shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. It was bad enough that he had to miss the wrestling match because it had to be held on the night of a full moon, he also had to lie to his brothers, while keeping Marco and the others as far away from them as possible as not to raise suspicion. "I dunno. Why do you care?"
"Why do I care?! Because I'm your brother, that's why! Or are you too embarrassed by us to introduce them?" Sabo asked challengingly.
"Duh." Ace rolled his eyes, trying hard – and failing – to suppress his smirk.
Sabo looked at him mock-indignantly. "And you call yourself my brother. Still," he said, becoming serious again, "I need to know what kind of people my brother hangs out with."
"Are you worried about me?" Ace teased.
"I'm protective."
"You're adorable."
"Excuse you?!" Sabo crossed his arms before his chest and looked away. "If anyone is adorable, it's you!"
"If anyone is adorable, it's Luffy."
The both of them looked at Luffy, who looked up at hearing his name, looking at them with owlish eyes as he licked the plate in his hands clean.
Finally, Sabo sighed. "Fine, at least we agree on one thing. But don't do anything stupid tonight, you hear me?"
"Look who's talking," Ace retorted with a snort.
"Hey, I'm the responsible one!"
"Really now?" Koala piped up, sitting up straight and placing the magazine next to her on the couch. "You sure 'responsible' is the word you're looking for? Remember how often I have to bail your ass out of trouble?"
"I'm still the most responsible one of us," Sabo protested, gesturing to himself, Ace and Luffy.
Koala sighed deep, but it was clear that she – begrudgingly – had to agree with him.
The doorbell rang, and Ace was about to stand up as he was certain it was for him, but Luffy had already sprinted to the door to let Thatch in, dragging him into the living room.
"Look Sabo, it's Ace's friend!" he called happily.
"So I see." Sabo narrowed his eyes and observed Thatch intently. Thatch waited patiently until he was done.
"Heya," he said.
"Don't you 'heya' me," Sabo snapped. "What are your plans with Ace?"
Thatch shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "I dunno. Hang out?"
Sabo snorted. "Hang out? Aren't you a little too old to 'hang out' with someone Ace's age?"
"Ouch," Thatch said, but it was clear he wasn't insulted, if his grin was anything to go by.
Ace rolled his eyes. "Sabo, stop acting like I'm a minor going to prom. And Luffy, stop sniffing my friend!"
"But he smells so good!" Luffy whined. "He smells like meat!"
"I suppose that's possible. I was cooking before I came here," Thatch said.
"You cook?" Luffy ask.
"Well, I like to hang out in the kitchen." Thatch eyed Sabo with an amused look.
"Sabo," Luffy said, suddenly sounding serious and startling everyone. "He is okay." He held up his thumb to emphasise his words.
Koala sighed deeply and rose from the couch. "Nice to meet you, I'm Koala," she introduced herself. "Those idiots are Sabo and Luffy."
Luffy saluted.
"Thatch."
"Well, have fun tonight. We have to go now." She started to push Sabo in the direction of the door. Sabo gestured with two fingers towards his eyes and then towards Thatch, while Luffy waved enthusiastically.
When the door had pulled shut behind them, Ace sighed deeply. "Sorry about that."
"No worries. They seem nice."
Together, they walked outside towards Thatch's car. "So, are you ready?" Thatch asked as he had stepped behind the wheel.
"No. Should I be?" Ace said, pouting slightly.
Thatch laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, kiddo. It'll be okay."
"Kiddo?"
Thatch shrugged. "It felt like a kiddo moment."
Ace snorted and put on his seatbelt.
"I don't think it's ever a time to use the word kiddo," Izo's voice suddenly sounded from the backseat.
Ace yelped, jumping in his seat, only to be held down by his seatbelt. "Why? Why would you do that?!"
"Do what?" Izo asked.
"Be invisible!"
"Excuse me?" Izo said indignantly, fully visible now that Thatch was driving. "Don't you think your brothers would have thought it strange if they saw a translucent man in the back of your friend's vehicle?"
"Yes. Yes, they would have," Ace had to admit.
"So I think you mean, 'Thank you, Izo.'"
"Thank you, Izo," Ace muttered.
"You're welcome."
"Still, a head's up from either of you would have been nice," Ace said.
Thatch laughed. "You better get used to it, ki- er, Ace. Izo pops up wherever and whenever he wants. And you're not always sure if he's even been there."