Chapter 10 – The Curious Case of Monkey D. Luffy ~ Eustass Kidd
Society's full of judgers, and nothing can convince me otherwise. Hell, how many people have looked me in the face for the first time and didn't cringe? Well, yeah, my style ain't like theirs, but fuck them for not minding their own business. I'm no conformist, and I'm not going to pull any "gentleman crap" if it's just gonna make me feel like a pussy.
So, when I met Luffy's brother for the first time during that big surprise party, I thought—"Hell, he may be Luffy's brother, but when he sees me, he's gonna be like one of those pretentious assholes who sit on their high horses." Thought I was right—he gave me a lot of scathing looks—but then I realized that he just has a major bro complex. At least that's out of the way ever since we shared a couple of drinks and exchanged numbers.
And now, "That No Good Punk" Eustass Kidd and the rich and famous Asch Newgate are going to have lunch together. Who fucking knew?
After getting off my motorbike and taking off my helmet, I make sure to carefully place all the locks around my ride before parking it in a place where I can watch over it from afar. No way in hell is any fucker going to steal my baby. Last one who tried couldn't even get past the first lock, and he was dead before he could even try to make a run for it.
I head inside the diner—typical burger and shake shack, nothing fancy at all—and it doesn't take me too long to spot Ace who's waving at me from his seat. I stride over to him, and I can already see that he's started off with a chocolate shake and some fries. He's not completely alone, though. I recognize the person who sat in the nearby table as his house servant who must also be his bodyguard. Can't miss that Pineapple haircut of his.
"Hey, thanks for joining me for lunch today." Ace grins as we exchange high fives, and I place my helmet on the side before taking my seat across him.
"No problem," I tell him, and I look out the window, seeing my ride on one end and a red Audi R8 on the other. No brainer on who owns it. "Must have been a drive to get here to East Blue on a Saturday. People tend to go here a lot during the weekends."
"Yeah, roughly two hours, I think?"
"Could have taken the train. Saves you a hell lot of time."
"Trust me, I told my Dad that. He just laughed," he mutters and I can't help but feel sorry for the guy. I guess being sheltered by a helicopter Old Man comes with being as rich as fuck.
"But, you do know how to use the subway?"
"Oh, way more than my Dad would like me to know." He smirks, and I don't suppress myself from laughing. He's no Luffy, but I'd be damn lying if I said I didn't enjoy his company. Awesome rich kid with a rebel streak? Hell yeah.
"Anyway, sorry to keep you waiting," I tell him as I peer at his half-eaten plate of fries, "Wanted to close shop, but there was this one guy who wouldn't leave me the fuck alone until I fix up his engine. Was desperate enough to pay extra for it, too."
"Nah, it wasn't too long." He waves his hand. "I'm an eater like Lu, so by the time I got here, I just had to order something. Want some?"
"Thanks. You sure you're his brother?" I don't try to hide my skepticism at all as I pick on a few fries. Ace seems to be amused by the question.
"Pretty sure because I can be greedy with food, too. Let's just say that I'm feeling a bit generous today." He hands me the menu next, and I flip through the pages for anything that I'll be craving for.
"Speaking of Luffy, where is he?" I ask while eyeing the lunch special. Bacon jalapeño cheeseburger with fries and a drink for only 410 yen? They'll probably decrease the size of the burger by a bit, but hey—that ain't a bad deal at all. There's even a size upgrade for the fries and soda if I pay an extra 20.
"He's spending the day with Usopp and Mr. Shanks," Ace says, "You know that he'll be leaving soon."
"Is he taking it better?"
"Can't tell. Would help if I knew how he took it before."
I crumple the edges of the menu by accident, and I place it down before I end up ripping it, too. Most if not all of the light heartedness from earlier was gone as Ace eyes me sternly. Annoyed, I click my tongue. "I'm starting to realize why I'm here."
"Does it bother you?" he asks.
"Good fucking question." I sit back casually. "I hate it when people go snooping, but hell, you haven't seen him since forever. I'll give you that."
His lips form a wry smile. "Sorry about this," he even apologizes, "But, you're his best friend, and as much as I'd hate to admit it, I think you know him the most."
"You're not asking Shanks anything?"
"I've already heard a lot from him, but you know, I think there are some things you wouldn't tell anyone except maybe your best friend." I don't bother to say anything against that. He's not exactly wrong. "And, sometimes, I get the idea that Luffy chooses not to tell me things, you know?" I don't miss the depressing undertone behind that.
"That's him. He doesn't like people getting worried, but in the end, they do anyway."
"You know, it's funny hearing that from you since you seem to be more of a 'mind your own business' guy."
"Yeah, well, when your little brother's trying to be a dumbass, then yeah, that's my business." I snort. "Besides, he can't lie for shit, so sometimes, he just chooses to play it safe and not say anything about it. Still kind of obvious, though."
"Definitely." Ace chuckles while signaling for a waitress to come over.
I cross my arms. "So, what do you want to know?"
"We'll talk about it over lunch," he says, "I think you should order something first. Work must have been tough."
I pick up the menu, once again eyeing the lunch special. "Not a bad idea, Newgate. Warning you now, it might be a long story."
"We've got time." He shrugs as the waitress arrives. I give her my order and Ace decides on having a truffle cheese burger with an extra patty and fries. Damn, he's got good taste. I almost want to change my order because of that. Almost.
We didn't have to wait too long for our food to arrive. After around five minutes, we're already munching on our burgers and fries. Even Pineapple's enjoying his lunch from the other table, although he doesn't come close to Ace's appetite level.
And, while we're eating, he gives me several compliments over my bike, about how Luffy says a lot of goods things about me, and he even asks how it must be to work and study at the same time. Tells me that his cousin's kind of like that, but it's more of a chef mentorship than an actual job. Me? I just say it as it is—Can't care less about school now that I'm finally graduating high school, and I've got no plans of heading to college. I don't need to be millionaire to live. Running my shop is all I need for a steady enough income. He seems satisfied by my answer, and unlike other people, he doesn't try to convince me otherwise. Even says that he envies me—his Dad seems set on what course he should take when he heads to college. A finance or management one, obviously.
We talk about other things—school, work, how much of a dumb shit Bartolomeo is, upcoming movies, just about anything really. I can also tell that he ain't bullshitting me when he keeps asking about motorcycles. He seems really interested in the subject, so I offer to teach him how to ride one.
"I don't think that's possible." He shakes his head with an apologetic smile. "Keeping the bike is going to be a problem unless a certain someone is willing to lend me his bike." I notice him give Pineapple the puppy dog look. It fails spectacularly.
That, plus he's got narcolepsy, too. Duh, it runs in the family.
Everything's all small talk, and we haven't touched on the subject of Luffy. Yet. I can tell that Ace is still breaking the ice which I'm not against. What I'll tell him is going to be heavy, so might as well start off like this. Of course, we're going to have to talk about it eventually.
"So," I start off, "What do you already know?" My burger's about three-fourth's done plus the fries are all eaten up. Ace's plate has been completely wiped out since a while ago. He can be polite, but it doesn't surprise me when his table manners fly off the window, and he just gulps down all his food within a minute. This is Luffy's brother I'm dealing with here.
Ace folds his arms, his expression serious this time. "At one point, he traveled around the world for a few years with my grandfather and his caretaker before settling in East Blue. Sometimes, Mr. Shanks lived with him. Probably the reason why I couldn't find him."
I nod.
"Our grandfather died recently, so he had to move here. He's really close to all of you guys here in East Blue, so it was difficult for him. Still coping."
I nod again, but this time, Ace leans slightly forward, his voice dropping several volumes.
"But, he isn't really coping well, is he? Shanks told me that ever since our grandfather died, he's been getting signs of depression. Doesn't help that he's got a major phobia of the dark and some separation anxiety. I think I know why he's still afraid of the dark, but care to tell me more about the others?"
"You ain't gonna like it," I warn him. If him freaking out over that scar on Luffy's chest is any indication, then I'm betting my entire business that he'll be cranking his Bro Complex up to Eleven by the end of this. Well, if he hasn't done that already…
"I know," he says almost snappishly, "Not exactly a happy camper when I found out that Luffy's been targeted by gangs because of some title."
I snort. "None of us are. Bartolomeo and I have been trying to keep things a secret, but people talk, y'know? And, they've been talking again ever since that fight he had in your school. Not anyone can punch someone so hard that the guy ends up flying and landing how many meters away." I drink up the rest of my soda before continuing, "So, what part do you want to know first?"
"Let's start with the most obvious problem. Luffy said he tried to save you, and that's how it all started. Want to tell me what happened before that?"
I hold my glass, but then I remember that I just finished my soda. Goddamn it. "I'm telling you again—this is gonna be a long story, and I think I'm gonna have to talk about my life first. Guess that's the best way to explain how the hell that entire mess started." Damn, where's the menu? How much did a can of beer cost again?
Ace must be pretty damn observant, though, because he ends up calling for the waitress again. Must be the fact that I'm still holding onto my glass. "Go shoot," he tells me as she approaches our table.
I keep silent until she arrives, and when she does, I don't waste time in asking for two large cans of beer. She comes back quickly—too quickly, I think—and so I pop open one can before taking a large swig from it. Ace doesn't stop me, just sitting there patiently until that dry, bitter aftertaste is there to calm me down, and I'm just about ready to tell him my story.
"I was around… ten years old, I think. My old man? He was an ass… getting drunk, beats the shit out of me, lives on welfare and that crap. S'no wonder my mom left him and never came back. Fucker even tried to make me take a sniff one time. One day, I thought, 'Hell, I had it with this. Anywhere's better than here.' So, I just got up and left."
"So, where did you go?" he asks me, and suddenly, I'm caught off guard. It shouldn't surprise me anymore that he doesn't have a judgmental look on his face. What really gets me, though, is that certain spark in his eyes when I mentioned about my past. Intrigue? Shock? Anger? Sympathy? I can't really describe it, but whatever it is, I'm glad it's there because it somehow makes talking about this even easier for me.
"Ended up living with some old mechanic. Name's Crocus. Allowed me to board with him, and he doesn't really care what the hell I do as long as I help out in his junk shop and help feed his damn pet fish. I…. Hell, I didn't mind. No way was I gonna head to social welfare or free load from my friends. Besides, I like mech stuff, especially cars, motorcycles and… most of all, drifting."
This time, Ace raises an eyebrow. "Drifting? As in… cycle drifting? I heard that's illegal. It's taken lives."
I shrug. "Money talks. I think you already know that. Can't really say how it is in Grand Line but over here, the police are easily bribed. Plus, drifting isn't really a problem in the city. You guys don't have our terrain."
"True. Roads are steeper, there are sharper turns, more blind spots, plus rocky ground that hasn't been developed yet. They always did say that out of the 5 major cities in New Japan, East Blue gets the most accidents. It's perfect for drifting."
"And, if you've got a lucky streak, it's perfect for earning a crap load of money," I laugh. "I guess you can say that I was one of those lucky bastards."
"It's hard to believe you got into this at your age."
"Yeah, well my old man once brought me to watch a race with him. Kids are usually asleep by that time. He gambled but lost a shitload. Me? I fell in love the moment I saw them racing."
"So, did you race or did you gamble?"
"Both. That's double the money, but I usually did the racing. Trusted my own engine more than any other bastard's out there. Still do right now."
"How old were you?"
"12? 13? About a few years after I moved in at that old man's junk shop. Good thing I was in a public school, meaning I get free education, because other than the food and shelter, he didn't spend a cent for me. I hated to accept charity and all, but at some point, I got desperate. At one point, I had to wear some of Killer's old clothes, you know?" I stop to groan at the memory. Hell, there's no way I can forget that.
When I ran away from home, I didn't really think too much on the clothes situation. I only brought like… a tiny bag full? Hell, probably less. But, then I started to smell like shit from wearing the same clothes over and over, plus they needed a good stitching. Sucked at that girly shit, though, so there's no way in hell that I was going to sew.
God, then those assholes in school wouldn't shut the hell up. How many times did I end up punching the lights out of them, only to end up in the principal's office with the old hag telling me to take a damn shower? Fuck them all. Except for Killer who tried to help me by giving me his old clothes which were kind of tight on me. No surprise there since he's always been skinnier next to me. So yeah, I get to leave the shower with fresh clothes now, but they're partially ripped, and that didn't stop more assholes from coming down at me during lunch breaks.
Ace tilts his head. "Killer? He's… the one who doesn't talk, right? Plus, his head's always under some sort of helmet and mask?"
"Yeah, that's him." I down another gulp of beer. "Even until today, I can't tell whether he's seriously mute or if he's got some sort of social anxiety. Kind of makes sense since he keeps hiding his face, but at the same time, I don't get it. He's got a good family. He's got us. Well, whatever. We've been through a hell lot together even before Luffy came into the picture."
"Your best friend?"
"If you can have two best friends, then yeah, definitely," I nod, and I pick up my burger before saying, "Kinda like this—Lu's the best friend that I'm gonna have a hell lot of crazy adventures with. Killer's the one who's gonna make sure that I don't get my ass killed in said crazy adventures."
"Make sense." He nods in understanding as I eat up the rest of my burger. "Great to have both kinds."
"Yeah, well… That's the kinda guy Killer is. Man, if it weren't for him, I don't know what the hell would have happened to me or where I'd end up. So, yeah… the only reason I survived is because I'm helping out in Crocus' junk shop. But, it's not enough. I needed to earn my own money. Needed to find a way to support myself somehow because I knew that my 'land lord' is gonna ask me to pay up sometime. So, I decided to learn the tricks of the trade from him, y'know? I realized, 'Hey, I like working with repair tools. Might as well make my own business.'"
"You did a good job."
"Yeah, and that took a couple 'a years of training, riding and drifting. Some customer in the shop taught me the basics of riding a motorcycle. Learned pretty damn quick. Said I was a natural at it, too. So, I practiced every night, and by the time I was sure that I was good enough, I went up to Crocus and told him, 'I wanna drift.' He was all, 'You wanna die, boy?' Told him that I ain't gonna. I'm gonna earn my own money. Build my own shop. I ain't gonna free load anymore. Too proud for charity, y'know? Yeah, he didn't really care. Said I was responsible for my own life. S' long as I don't end up in debt or some shit. So, I started to design my own bike. He helped out a bit, too. And by the time I was like… 13, I started racing."
"That's kind of young." Ace pointed, "No one ever caught you?"
"Well, look at me. I'm taller than the average Joe. Just told those guys, 'I'm 18.' They believed me, and like I told you, even if they weren't convinced, it's all about the money—and I got a lot of it because I win my races. Earned enough that I rented a space and bought materials to start my own garage. Then, I started buying my own stuff—clothes, food, stuff I need to live."
"You weren't scared the first few times?"
"Nah. I knew I was the best at what I do. I knew what I signed up for… and yeah, pain's part of the game, but I just told myself, 'I gotta win. Gotta aim for the prize money. No way am I gonna be assigned to some foster home. There was that time when something happened in your city… and a bunch 'a people our age turned to orphans… Sent to foster homes and all… I've heard the horror stories, you know?"
A grim expression appears on his face when I mention it. "Yeah. I've heard about them, too," he mutters.
I nod. "So, yeah… No room to be scared." That's something I kept telling myself in the head like a mantra, especially during my first race. I can still remember the crowds of people cheering while exchanging bets, the aching sensation found in my chest as the countdown began, the first major turn… the guy who left a trail of blood as he rolled down the pavement after crashing down his bike…
Hell no, I wasn't scared. But, Killer was. I think he grew suspicious when I came to school one time with my right side completely bruised after some asshole tried to push me off my bike.
And, I think Killer can make the perfect spy because not only is he silent, but he's pretty damn sneaky which is why he confronted me about it in school the morning after another race. He doesn't talk, and he's usually the calm one, but even if I can't see his face, I know when he's pissed.
"I saw what you did the other night, Eustass. How long have you been drifting?" Instead of the usual neat lines, his penmanship is hasty and crooked. Kind of like scratches.
I shove the note at him. "What the fuck? You were spying on me?"
He takes out his pen to quickly scribble out a note. He then gives it to me. "I was worried!" it says, "I always wondered how you got the money to start your shop or how you managed to get all of your new stuff. At first, I thought Mr. Crocus was being generous but… There are times when you come to school with all these bruises and, you've been falling asleep in class more often. I know something' up."
"Yeah, well, whatever. It's doing me a whole lot 'a good."
"I want you to stop, Eustass. As your friend, I'm telling you now. This is serious. You can get arrested or even worse."
"Why the fuck should I stop? You saw last night." I stop for a moment, looking at all sides to make sure that no one's eavesdropping on us before I hiss out in a whisper, "I'm a winner. Plus, did you see all the money I earn in one night?"
"Eustass, you can always live with me. I've told you many times, right? If you really don't want to think of it as charity, you can just split the chores with me. I don't think my parents would mind."
"Don't bullshit me. You and I both know they want you to avoid me."
It takes him a moment to pen out a response, and if he had a voice, I can imagine it to sound like a defeated one. "Eustass, please. I don't want you to get in trouble because of this."
"I'm not gonna. I'm a total natural."
"It's not your winning streak that I'm worried about. It's your ego, Eustass. You've got a lot of it, and I think one day, it's going to land you in hot water." Sometimes, I'm glad the guy's mute. Makes me less willing to rip off that helmet of his and then slug him on the face.
The school bell starts to ring, but at this point, all I see is red. Killer reaches out for his notepad, but I'm just so pissed off that without really thinking about it, I automatically rip the already thin pad to shreds before walking off to the classroom. But, not without looking back for a second, only to see him staring down at the remains of his notepad with slumped shoulders and a pitiful shake of his head.
He doesn't stop trying convince me to give up my new lifestyle, even after I threaten to burn the notepad that I bought for him as an apology. Not that it matters. He doesn't even use it.
"You have a best friend, Newgate?"
Ace blinks, looking surprised by the random question. "Yeah. His name's Sabo," he says, "Same grade as you. After he graduates, he'll be studying in Korea for college, but he's got plans of getting into the K-Pop industry. Great singer and dancer, so I know he's going places. Cool guy, really."
"Ever been a huge dick to him?"
"Yeah, although he's got his moments, too."
"And, he still sticks with you." I finish up my first can of beer before opening the second. "Sometimes, I think that's how you figure out who your true friends are, y'know? Killer's put up with a lot of my bullshit over the years, but in the end, he's always there. Hard to find a friend like that. I've been a dick to him so many times. Don't think I really deserve the guy, but… fuck, whatever. I'm just rambling."
"No, no, go ahead." He gestures.
"Nah, where was I?" I take a drink. "So, yeah… I was drifting. Gambling. Attending school. Running my new grease monkey business. Living. Called it when Crocus started asking me to help pay for rent one day… although, that's probably cause I was stealing most of his customers, y'know? But, whatever. The guy's old and ready to retire anyway, so I was basically running two shops. And, it was around that time… I was around the eight grade, I think… yeah, that's when I met Luffy."
"In school?"
"Nah, he came to my shop one day. Drake—you met him in the party, right? Yeah, he was already friends with Bonney who's classmates with Luffy and Apoo in the fifth grade. So, Luffy needed a new wheel for his bike, and so since Drake also knew about my business, he referred him to me. And, can I tell you something?"
Ace tilts his head. "What?"
I groan. "Your brother's the most annoying little piece of shit I've ever met."
"Really?"
"Trust me. He's high maintenance. Give it around two more weeks. He will land you in the most weird ass situations, give you several near heart attacks, and cause you to sprout grey hair sooner than you think."
From afar, I can hear someone coughing. Turns out to be Pineapple. Ace catches this, too, and he throws his bodyguard a fiery glare before shifting back to me again. "Anyway, continue." Why do I have the feeling that Luffy's already done some crazy shit in his new home? Wait, no. I shouldn't even be asking that question.
"Yeah, well, that's how we met. Enters my garage, I replace his wheel, I get paid, and then he starts blabbing on and on about shit. Couldn't stick to one subject, y'know? I think he talked about Drake first, I kinda tuned out a bit, and then I realize he's talking about literal shit next. I was pretty convinced that your brother has ADHD… Sometimes, I still think he has."
"Seriously?"
"Something about him really changed after your Grandpa passed away. You don't see it because you didn't know him back then, but all of us… we see it, y'know?" I don't miss that depressing look he's sporting now. I don't think I'll ever know how it feels, but for sure, it must suck like hell to know that you're the one who knows your own brother the least. "I think he's quieter compared to before, thinks to himself more, more anxious, less annoying… and that annoys me even more for some reason. To be honest with you, I ain't used to the Luffy you're living with right now."
"Good to know," Ace says in a half-whisper. There's a break of silence in between before he adds, "If that's the case… tell me more about the Luffy you know, then."
I roll my eyes. "What d'ya think I was gonna tell you?" This earns me a small chuckle. Kind of forced, if you ask me, but I ignore this. "Yeah, the Luffy I met back then was a googly-eyed dumb ass. Keeps blabbing on and on. Told him, 'Look, I fixed your bike, so just get the fuck out of here and leave me alone, okay?' But he probably didn't hear me over the sound of engines. I take my eyes off him for a few seconds, and the next thing I knew, the little shit had some of my bikes crashing all over the garage."
"Including your race bike?"
"Yeah, and for that, I picked up my wrench, threw it at him and it just landed on his head."
"You threw a wrench at Luffy's head?" It's like his voice is oozing with danger. Oh, right. Bro complex activated. Nearly forgot about that.
"Yeah, I threw it at his head, and it practically bounced off of him like a rubber ball. Swore that it should have given him a concussion, but nope, and something like that didn't occur to me until later on, y'know? Anyway, Luffy just ends up laughing, thinks the whole situation's funny, and then he goes, 'Okay! I decided! You're super cool, so we're gonna be friends!' And, for that, I just gave him a big 'Fuck you' before grabbing him and tossing him and his bike out of my garage. Then, I phoned Drake and promised to beat the shit out of him the next time we meet."
That crooked smile of his appears again. "You're lucky I like you enough."
"Yeah?" I manage to snort. "Well, thanks. You don't scare me much anyway."
The smile only gets wider. "That's what they all say." If whatever Bartolomeo says about this guy is true, then I really don't like the implications behind those words. Not that I want to admit that to him…
I made a mental note to avoid pissing this guy off further before going on. "So, that's the first time we met, and after that, he just kept coming back. Starts following me around school, too. God, he was so annoying, and he acted as if we're best friends already. I tried to shake him off so many times, but no matter what, he'd always catch up. Dunno how he does it. He just does, okay?"
All those countless headaches I've gained because of Luffy are coming back to me, causing me to release a frustrated groan. Funny how my best friend can also be a massive pain in the ass, really. I think the only reason I haven't tried to seriously kill him was because Killer—who's got the patience of a saint—would make sure that I don't do anything he considers "drastic."
And according to him, I do a lot of "drastic" things on a daily basis.
"So… how did you become friends?"
"He…" I frown, and I take the time to jog my memory a bit until I finally remember what happened. "He actually helped me out with work. Turned out to be really useful. And, well… I was less angry at him at that point, so I got to talk to him more, and… yeah, I guess we ended up clicking."
Now that I think about, I must have gotten it wrong. I wasn't the one who did the talking. Luffy did, and somehow, that really changed my way of seeing him.
"Ah, shit!" Pissed off, my wrench goes flying and then landing with a loud clatter that resonates across the room. I got fucking distracted, and now, I can't get these damn nuts loose! Fuck!
"Ehhh… Kidd, you dropped your wrench. I'll get it for you!" I turn around, and from the other side of the room, I see Luffy who's waving the metal object at me.
I shut my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. "SHUT UP!" Goddamnit, I think my brain cells are going to fucking pop… "I meant to do that, okay!"
"O-Oh, okay!" My eyes crack open from the sound of the wrench dropping. Again.
I swear to whatever god out there that I'm about 99.9% done with this guy. Shit. I can't believe I haven't seriously tried to kill this guy yet. Why is that? Oh, right. Goddamn you, conscience. Goddamn you, Killer.
"I-If you want, I can drop some more wrenches for you." Man. It should be easy to kill this idiot right now. I've got all the tools here. Chop his head off. Make him swallow hot metal. Nail him to some wooden post like Jesus Christ. Drill holes on his body and dance around in a glorious fountain of his blood. Nah, wait. That's going to make a damn mess in my garage…
I mentally slap myself in the head before I actually attempt to do any of those. He's a little shit, but no way in hell am I going to get arrested for this guy. Besides, I've got more important things to work on.
"Out of my way!" He scoots over to the side as I head over to one of my work desks for some extra tools. Then, I start rummaging through the pile of stuff I've got in front of me.
Normally, I'd probably get those damn nuts off in a jiff, but I've got a massive headache right now—literally and figuratively in the form of that annoying Luffy kid—so I can't really think straight. I can probably add use some oil. I think I've got some PB Blaster. Might take a few tries, though. Or maybe torch up those damn nuts. Nah, that might ruin the metal. Use my breaker bar as a lever to get them all out? Or why don't I just drill in some new damn bolts? Ah, fuck it. Maybe I should try out all my options one by one.
I grab all the stuff I need, only for them to go crashing on the floor as I run towards the Moron who's playing around with one of my wrenches.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" That's fucking it. He's all pale in the face as he drops the wrench (again) and immediately backs up from my current project. I'm going to pummel this guy, but I make sure to inspect whatever damage he caused before I do…
And, I find out that there's none. He didn't do anything at all. It's all the same except for one lone nut that's neatly placed down on the surface instead of being screwed tight like the last time I left it.
I immediately glare at him. "How did you do it?"
Luffy blinks. "I used your wrench?"
"Well, duh!" I pick up the wrench he used and then try to loosen the second nut. It doesn't budge. Not even the rest of them do. I place the object down, realizing what just happened behind my back. "Wait." I take one deep breath. "You're telling me you just wrenched it out?"
He blinks again with those huge eyes of his before nodding. "Yup!" He looks cheerful, reminding me of some damn golden retriever that's wagging its tail around after performing a new trick for his master.
I run a hand through my hair, groaning. Well, shit. Fucking idiot did something right for once—and he didn't get my stuff wrecked in the process, too.
"Don't touch my stuff if you're not sure of what you're doing," I tell him, and for some reason, I sound less angry than I intended to be, "You're just lucky nothing happened."
And, now Luffy's a hyper little puppy as he dashes to my side and starts circling around me. "Hey, hey! Can I help out some more? Pleaaaaaase?"
I roll my eyes, clutching his shoulder to make him stop before I get dizzy. "You don't know shit about mechanics. I've got experience. You don't, and you don't strike me as someone who's got natural potential. I make a business out of this, and I've got no room for screw ups, you hear? So, give me one damn good reason why I should let you help."
"You can just tell me what to do, and I can help you out!" His eyes widen, glistening like shiny black stones as he continues to plead. Crap, is he actually giving me the puppy dog eyes now? "Do you have any other stuff you want me to pull? Please? I really, really want to help!" Huh. This guy really is a dog. Maybe that's what his middle name stands for. Monkey Dog Luffy. Suits him.
I check my watch, noting the time. 3:30. Still hours away until sun down, and he's not going to leave until then.
"If you're gonna sit around here until evening—" I can't believe this. "You might as well be useful." Yeah. I don't fucking believe this.
Oh, but he believes it, and suddenly, it's Christmas to him. He grabs the wrench and sits on top of the table as I take my seat on the only chair I've got in this garage. This is the part where I'd try to shove him off, but hey, it's not like my desk is going to collapse on him. He's so skinny, he's probably as light as a feather…
And yet, this skinny kid who's got zero muscle is actually unscrewing those nuts as if they're kid's toys. What. The. Fuck.
Then, he smiles at me and asks if he can do some more stuff. His enthusiasm freaks me out. The fact that we spend the next hour working together freaks me out even more.
Ah, shit. No use denying it. Looks like the Dog… No, the "Monkey" seems to know some tricks after all.
"Why do you wanna be my friend?" I ask out of the blue while I toss him an energy bar. He catches this with ease and thanks me before quickly unwrapping it. He's still sitting there on the edge of the table. I just sit on my chair before opening a bottle of water.
I'm not going to admit it to him outright, but it's thanks to him that I've actually done a lot. If I don't take any other breaks after this, I'll probably get this done by dinner time.
"Because I want to." I raise an eyebrow, and it's not because of his answer. It's how he manages to stuff his face with the entire energy bar within a span of a few seconds before he sends it down to his stomach. His mouth must be a fucking black hole. "You're really cool, and even if you're mean to me a bunch of times, I think you're a great person. Killer's your friend, and he's very nice. One time, he told me that you're actually a very nice person deep, deep down, and I believe him, you know?"
Even when I'm downing some water, I feel like some hole's been punctured on my stomach, so all of the fluids are just leaking out. Damn Killer. Making me look like a softie. He damn well knows that I've got a rep to keep!
But, Luffy's being… Luffy, and so he doesn't stop talking there. He continues to ramble on. "Before moving here to East Blue, I was in the UK, and I saw a shooting star, you know? I wished that I can have friends, so I'm really happy that Bonney and Apoo became my friends. Drake, Urogue and Killer, too! I've also got a friend in Grand Line City, too. His name's Usopp! I haven't seen him in a while, but we always go online to play games."
I grunt in response before I drink again. Just to show that I'm listening.
Well, actually, I am listening this time. Might as well, right? Too tired to block off his conversation anyway.
"You wanna know a secret?" He whispers as if we're hiding under the covers in some slumber party. I give him another grunt. Of course, he takes this as a yes. "I really shouldn't be here right now because my grandpa's really strict, and he always wants me home right after school. But, I really want friends, so I've been sneaking out just so I can hang out with you and everyone else. That way, I can make even more friends!"
For once, I actually give him a coherent response. "Your grandpa sucks." Who fucking does that? Helicopter grandparent much.
"No, he doesn't!" Luffy says indignantly, and I note the way his bottom lip sticks out as he tries to frown at me. This guy doesn't have any intimidation factor at all. "He really loves me, and that's why he wants me safe at home!"
"Whatever." Bullshit.
He continues his little pouting game until I throw him a pack of M&M's which I keep in my snack stash, and now, that ridiculous smile's back. Huh. So, he's won over by food? Guess I can't blame his grandpa after all. This guy's asking to be kidnapped for ransom.
"Friends are nice, you know?" he says before he pops about ten pieces in one go, "When I was traveling with my grandpa, I never really had a friend, and that's too bad because I don't wanna be alone, you know? Because in the house, it's just me and my caretaker right now. Grandpa's always out doing government stuff, and Shanks only comes to visit sometimes. You should meet Shanks. He's my favorite person ever!"
I don't say anything. I just watch him happily finish up the rest of the M&Ms before he starts rocking back and forth in his spot.
"Sometimes, I wish my brother's with me, you know? So I won't be alone. Being alone's the worst feeling, really. But, we got separated when we were living in a foster home, and well… he died. That's what my grandpa told me. It's just him and me now." Why the hell's he telling me this? Some little sob story so I can feel sorry for him?
I stare at my water bottle, watching the contents swirl behind the clear plastic surface. It seems more filled than it should be, and now, I'm not that thirsty more. Damn it.
"I wish Ace would come back to me." He sighs, his legs kicking back and forth now. "I made a wish to Santa Claus one Christmas. Too bad that he hasn't answered me yet, but oh, well! I can wait!" I open my mouth to tell him that Santa isn't real… but I just don't. It… doesn't seem right.
Hell, I know I'm a dick to people, but even I've got standards.
He opens his mouth—probably going to tell me that his favorite pet goldfish died or something—and I immediately shut him up before he says another word. "Okay, stop. I don't need to hear your entire sob story."
He tilts his head at me curiously, and I stare at that annoying gaze of his before shutting my eyes and swiping my unruly red hair back. His eyes just shine so stupidly bright.
"S-Sorry if I-I'm boring you…"
"Nah."
I pause for a moment, and for the first time ever, it's silent between us. I clench the bottle in my grasp, feeling torn between saying what I plan to say right now or just preserving this silence.
The former ends up winning. "As… As long as you don't break anything here, you can come visit." And, when I open my eyes, I can see the biggest smile that I've ever seen glued on his face, and somehow, it doesn't bug me like it used to.
Luffy eventually leaves to race back to his house before his caretaker notices, and when he does, I make sure to add an extra chair to the list of stuff I need to order next.
"The two of us became best friends, and everything followed from there. We started hanging out. Then his friends came in, and my friends did. Next thing I knew, we all ended up merging into one big group. Met a couple of others, too. Hawkins—you haven't met him. He was sick during the party. Guy's a massive occult freak, but Luffy got into some odd friendship with him, so he's part of the group."
To be honest, I really don't like the guy. I only put up with him because Luffy does, and I'm damn certain that Hawkins knows this. Not that he gives a flying fuck. It's really no secret that Luffy's probably the only guy in the group that he gives a shit about. Good thing? Bad thing? Who fucking knows?
Wait, I'm forgetting someone. Right. "Oh, and then there's the King of Dumb Ass, Bartolomeo."
At the mere mention of the said Dumb Ass, Ace gives me a cross between a poker face and an "Are you fucking serious?" look. "Yeah, you want to tell me how that happened?"
I brace myself for the next few things that I'm going to say. Yeah, he said he likes me, but I'm not going to take any chances. "I tried to get Bartolomeo to kill him."
"What?" Somehow, I'm sweating even if this diner is heavily air conditioned.
"We weren't friends yet."
"You what?" Is it possible that everyone's guess is right? That "The Fist of Love" is actually some genetic super powered ability that's been passed on from generation to generation in Luffy's family and that Ace is actually capable of using it? Because the more that he's glaring holes into my head, the more I'm convinced, and I'll never tell Luffy this, but I secretly wish right now that his brother's really six feet under like we all thought he was.
"It was years ago, okay?" I hold my arms up. So much for telling him earlier that he doesn't scare me. That's obviously a big fucking lie at this point. Oh, wait until I start mentioning about Wapol… "Luffy was annoying the hell out of me, so I tried to get Bartolomeo to cut off his tongue. That's his thing, y'know?"
"And, did he almost?" I don't read minds or predict the future like Hawkins claims he can, but I'm pretty damn sure that "Big Brother" is busy imagining some of Bartolomeo's death scenarios. Probably mine, too. Joy.
"Nope. Didn't come close. Next time I saw Bartolomeo, he's all 'Luffy-senpai' and that shit. Said something about Luffy being a born miracle with 'godly powers' just because he managed to save him from getting run over by a truck."
The rage is still there, but it's lessened somehow to make room for confusion. "You're kidding me."
"I wish." I snort. "It's Bartolomeo. He never respected any authority until Luffy showed up. Yeah, he saved his life, so how's that different? His own gang members get him out of tight situations a bunch of times. But, then he starts blabbing about how the truck was speeding towards him, and that Luffy just came in like lightning. Oh, and don't get me started on that whole 'his arm held the truck back for a split second before they both escape.' That's complete Superman bullshit."
"Really?"
"That's what I thought… until that time when Luffy helped me out in my garage, and then suddenly, Bartolomeo wasn't as bat shit insane as I thought. Still, had my doubts, but…"
"But?" Ace presses further as I start to trail off.
I frown, realizing that I'm already at the part that I dread to talk about the most. There's no helping it, though. Pretty sure that this is the part that he's been dying to hear since he got here. "But, when Luffy saved my life, that's when I started believing that he isn't normal at all. You've already heard about Wapol from Luffy, right?"
His gaze darkens even further. "Yeah, I have. He's the one who… hurt him?" There was an uncanny pause in between his words, but I don't bother to bring it up to him.
"Yeah, but he did it because of me." And, I don't dare to look at him in the eyes as I focus on the mass of crumbs on my plate. "I'm not going to deny it to you, Newgate. I made a major mistake, and that screwed Luffy over. It's all my fault."
"Explain." His tone is cold, flat, devoid of any emotion, and I'm not sure whether or not I prefer that over the raw signs of anger he showed awhile ago. I take a deep breath.
"It was only a matter of time until every racer out there knew my name. It's like motors and cycle drifting are in my blood, you know? I earned a title for myself. 'Metal Genius.' 'Red Lightning.' 'Captain,' was it? Whatever. They gave me a lot. A few silvers and bronzes during the first few times, but I got better and better and then came the major winning streak. I began to face the Big Guys in the League, and I beat them one by one… So, it was only a matter of time until I was challenged by the Street King himself. Back then, it was Wapol."
God, I hate that I can still remember it as if it was just yesterday—how he charged into the assigned race track that night as if he owned the damn place, how he "offered" to fix up my motorbike after it fell "accidentally," and how my blood boiled so high as he just kept laughing and laughing.
"Wapol and his gang managed their own garage. Bigger, but I won't say 'better'," I sneer, "Kept going on and on about how I'm just a rookie with a lucky star, that I can learn a thing or two from him. Pissed me off. He kept on bragging to everyone that he can make the fastest motors in the city. That's the biggest fucking lie that I've ever heard of, and I told him outright in front of everyone." Oh, that set him off, alright. Bastard was allergic to the word "con man." "So, obviously, the King wanted to defend his damn title. Cancelled all the races that night just so he can try to humiliate me."
"I'm guessing it went the other way around."
"Duh, but I ain't gonna say it was easy. Guy's a fucking cheater, and I'm not even going to mention the number of times he tried to crash into my bike just so he can throw me off. I'm talking about planted spikes. Random 'detours.' Oh, and the fact that the side of his bike is barbed, so it can easily puncture my tires. No one ever calls him in on that, though. They're all scared of 'The King.' They're all scared to call him the fraud that he is."
"You're talking about his mechanic business," Ace guesses.
I smirk. "You catch on fast. Yeah, the guy's got the strongest gang in the city, but that business which funds their activities was a major sham. I got curious one time when I saw one of his models in a junkyard. Dunno who owned it, but it's just abandoned there that I figured I might as well take it. Wanted to see how it fares against mine. So, I took it to my garage, and what did I find out after testing it out and even taking it apart piece by piece? Only cheap ass generic parts and a fucking magnet hidden behind the speedometer."
"So, it'll look like people are racing in high speeds when they really aren't?"
"Spot on. A lot of the racers don't design their own bikes, but I'm pretty sure that the ones who do knew about Wapol's tricks. They just don't say anything because they're scared to talk. Well, no. Not me. Son of a bitch tried to embarrass me, and I wanted him to pay for that. So, beating him in a race wasn't the only thing I did to him that night."
Oh, hell yeah. The only good thing about that night was Wapol's face when I beat him and then proceeded to tell everyone about the "secret" to his business. And, like the people in high school, they all ended up talking and word decided to spread. Bastard got bankrupt within the week, and the money all went to me in the form of his once loyal customers. So much for "The King of East Blue."
But, he didn't take it well at all. No. That's an understatement. I don't think I can give the perfect description for that look of humiliation on his face which blended so well with bloodthirsty rage.
"I should have listened to Killer," I find myself admitting to Ace all of a sudden, "He always said that I'm just too damn proud for my own good, and all of that ego's gonna bite me in the ass one day. It did, and I don't mind if it's just me, but then Luffy had to get involved."
Ace's probably trying to process everything I just said because it takes him more than a few seconds until he finally responds. "He tried to fight Wapol for you?"
"No. They kidnapped him just to try and get to me." All the color blanches from his face when I mentioned it, and I grab the nearly empty can of beer before finishing it all up.
Damn. I should have saved all the beer for this part. I don't think ordering just one more is going to be enough, too.
"They did what?" Ace is seething now, and he's asking me like he didn't hear me the first time.
"You heard me," I tell him, "Got a rematch note one day from one of his lackeys. He gave it to me and told me the details. Said I'd regret it if I didn't show up. I was game for it. Thought that Wapol bastard just wanted another beat down from me. Then, the day came, and for some reason, Luffy didn't show up in school. Didn't even show up in my garage later that day. Thought it was all just some coincidence… like he was sick or something, but he wouldn't pick up even when the gang and I tried calling him. And then, Hawkins... He... He said that he had a vision of Luffy."
"A vision?"
"He's psychic. Claims that he is anyway. Whatever. I don't really believe in that load of fairy tale bullshit." I tell myself that whenever I have to deal with the creepy motherfucker, but like they always say—"Seeing is believing." And, I was forced to see things that day which placed my belief of Hawkins—or non-belief, if that's what you call it—to the actual test.
Because he knew about the rematch note with Wapol even when I was so damn sure that I didn't mention it to anyone. Not even to Killer.
Because only he seemed to know where Luffy lives, and I knew he was right because I saw an old man—Luffy's grandpa, no doubt—barking several commands at the police force gathered in front of his house.
Because when I raced to the "meeting place"—much to Killer's and everyone else's protest—I saw what they were doing to Luffy, and I realized that Hawkins was fucking right.
"This is the result of your pride, Eustass Kidd." I can still hear the low monotone of his voice. "You know what to do. Go there and fix it. Luffy must live." I remember how he didn't say much, yet the promise of death was there, and I end up shivering… something that I don't usually do at all.
"They made a game of him, y'know."
"What do you mean?"
I eye my best friend's older brother who's no longer white in the face. All the color's back, but darker—angrier. The change is most obvious in his eyes, though. They're burning like fire. Obsidian black fire.
"Do you want the cute version or do you want me to just straight up tell you as it is?"
It takes him longer this time to mull over it until he gives me a single nod. He may look like the very image of Wrath itself, but I think a part of him is scared to find out the extent of what happened to his brother. Not that I blame the guy.
"Bastards wanted to… see who can make him scream first. Wanted to see who can cut him up the deepest. Wanted to see who can make him pass out first. Because… Luffy… he doesn't feel a lot of pain, you know? Can stand a whole lot of it. He's… not normal."
"His wounds healed up?"
"You know about it?"
Ace hummed slightly. "A couple of nights ago, he stepped on broken glass. The morning after, it's like it never even happened. Didn't even need to replace the bandages because they were practically gone. So, yeah, I know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, well…" I'm trembling. Don't know how long I've been doing so, and I just realize it now because I'm still holding the beer can and its bottom is continuously rapping against the table surface. "When I got there, they… had his wrists chained together and held towards the ceiling, okay? He was bleeding so much, cuts all over… you'd think he'd die on the spot from blood loss. Was flinching a lot too because they… they tazed him a bunch at… what? Max level? Normal people would have died, but Luffy… he never passed out. He was awake the whole time, and he endured everything. And… you know him. He's a hell of a crybaby."
But, he wasn't crying because he was scared for himself. I know because I remember the way he cried… with those big, fat tears flooding down his face and the way he bowed his head towards the floor in shame because he's too afraid to look at anyone.
"They know… They know…" he said in between, "I-I tried to keep it… I'm sorry, Grandpa… I've been bad… T-They're going to get me… The monsters… Because I'm bad…"
If looks can kill, then Ace can probably burn down the entire East Blue. The corners of his lips are strained too tight, and his knuckles are the palest I've seen. His eyes are blazing this time, and a huge chunk of me is hoping that his rage is directed towards Wapol and not me because hell, I'd hate to be on the other side of it.
"So, they were there, sitting around him. They're just waiting for the cuts to heal before playing their game again. Wapol definitely won it. Those scars on Luffy's chest? That's his. The rest mostly healed up, but I think if you look really close, you can probably spot some." Some were creative, too—carving up words like "fag" or "freak" or "Eustass Kidd's bitch" all over skin. I won't tell that to Ace, though. I'm probably the most tactless guy out there, but God, Wapol fucked Luffy up, and if I keep giving him all the details, I'm pretty sure that Ace is going to literally murder a couple of people the moment he gets out of here.
And, if all that shit Bartolomeo says about Ace is true, then I'm definitely not wrong.
"I was pissed. I didn't want to beat the shit out of Wapol. I wanted to fucking kill the son of a bitch. So, I fought him, but it was just me, and there were too many of them. I even got shot, you know? I think I passed out at one point because everything else was just a blur, but Luffy… yeah, he fought on."
"I think I heard this part from him already," Ace tells me, "Luffy joined the fight and kicked Wapol's ass."
"Yeah. Can you believe that he was all chained up?" I chuckle dryly. "It's either rusted or he really did break them by force because I don't think he's trained to pick locks. Too dumb to be sneaky. Snapped them off right in front of all of us, and at that point, I just had to admit to myself that Bartolomeo isn't as crazy as I thought. By the way, that dumb ass actually came in along with his own gang to save our asses."
And, thank God for Killer. If it weren't for him, Bartolomeo wouldn't have came to handle the rest of Wapol's gang members, and I don't know if Luffy and I would survive that.
"Then, you guys ended up in the hospital after, right?" Ace sits back, slightly calmer compared to before. At least. I don't know if he's got Luffy's strength to flip over the table, bend utensils or some crazy shit.
"Yeah. First time I met your Grandpa, too. He was pissed."
"The uh… 'Fist of Love' or whatever Luffy calls it?"
I actively cringe at the memory of seeing how that loving fist worked for the first time, and how I thought it was fucking terrifying. I couldn't move in the hospital bed, and I was facing a seriously pissed off government worker-marine-guy-whatever who wanted to put me on a restraining order so that I wouldn't come anywhere near his "beloved grandson"—the same one he slammed his fist into, allowing him to writhe in fucking pain. Holy shit. Luffy's strength suddenly made more sense, and I was seriously convinced that the old man could probably punch my head off from my neck. Good thing Shanks came along before Old Man Garp sent his police dogs at me to drag me to juvenile delinquency or something.
I must have spaced out because Ace is looking at me funny. Must think I'm batshit now. I open my mouth, about to say something, but then Ace shakes his head before calling the waitress and ordering one more can of beer. "It's on me," he says, "And, you're drinking it, okay? I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."
I utter a groan. I usually hate being in the receiving end of charity, but damn, I think I really need that beer.
The beer arrives again, and just like last time, Ace lets me drink until I can feel the slight buzz, and I'm just about ready to talk. "I'm starting to think that my grandfather was very…"
"Fucking nuts."
Ace shifts in his seat, and I can tell that he's surprised by my answer. He tries to say something, but the words don't come out, and I take another sip before continuing.
"Look, I've got nothing against your Grandpa," I grumble as I cross my arms and lean back against the seat, "He's a good guy, and he means well, but… Ah, fuck, how the hell am I supposed to say this? He's…"
"Neglectful?" Ace offers as I frown, struggling to get the words off the tip of my tongue.
"Nah, it's more than that." I shake my head. The expression on his face falls, and I'm guessing that he's worried because lip biting is something Luffy does whenever he's feeling that way. "I've got nothing against him if work keeps him from home, but it's just the way he handles Luffy… I don't get it."
He doesn't pitch in any more words. Instead, he sits there, waiting for me to find the words that actually click—and I eventually do.
I frown, edging forward just so I can be sure that we can keep things private. "I'm going to be honest with you here… Sometimes, I think he's abusive, and I'm not just talking about physical abuse. Trust me, I know abuse, and yeah, he does that whole 'Fist of Love' thing, but Garp doesn't hurt Luffy the way my Old Man once did. I'm talking more about… about some other kind of abuse. The kind where you mess up a person in the head, y'know?"
"Emotional abuse?"
"Yeah, that's right." The silence that follows is hellishly awkward, and I avoid the piercing look that Ace is giving me.
"I want to believe you," he tells me in a half-whisper, "But, at the same time, I don't."
It causes me to break out in a tiny laugh. A very strained one. "Yeah, well I tried telling that to Luffy one time, and he got pissed. He's really convinced that Garp loves him."
"He still is."
"He's not completely wrong. I can see it. Your Gramp's got his moments." I think back to that time in the hospital, and I admit—all that concern Garp has for Luffy is no big damn lie. Even if "loving fists" towards Luffy or the wall are involved. "Hell, I've probably got it all wrong. I hope I got it all wrong, but I just—it's just so damn obvious to me, you know? And, it's not just me. Everyone in the group sees it, but Luffy… I hate that he's just so goddamn blind to it."
Ace doesn't take his hardened gaze off me. "You're brutally honest," he tells me flatly.
I grit my teeth in frustration. The number of times I've tried to bring it up to Luffy… the number of times I tried to make him understand what the entire group is seeing… it's all coming back to me... and even if they've never met, I don't know if I can convince Ace to see what I've seen with my own eyes.
"Look, I don't think I'm parent material—hell, I don't think I'm ever gonna be one—but there's no way in hell that I'm gonna kill my kid's social life just to 'keep him safe' or that type of bullshit. 'S no wonder he didn't have friends! That, and he kept on moving places, so he never had a goddamn chance! Pretty damn sure that Garp wanted him home schooled, too, but I'm guessing Shanks did some convincing just so Luffy can make friends in a regular school. And, those times when Garp's not around and Luffy 'sneaks' out? I get the idea that Dadan knows, but she doesn't do shit about it because she knows Luffy's happy with us. Seriously, I don't know what the hell your Gramps is thinking. The world is full of shit, but Luffy's gotta learn to deal with it. And, let's face it—now that he needs to step up on his game, he's doing a shitty job handling it."
This time, Ace tips his head down to avoid my eyes. His frown deepens, the creases in his forehead increasing. He must be thinking about something, and it makes me wonder if I'm getting through to him.
I sigh, swiping my hair back. "You know, after that whole mess with Wapol, I began to see why Luffy wanted to… hide that stuff in front of everyone, y'know? He promised his grandpa that he wouldn't, and… he's always scared about… stuff. He's all about 'being good' and shit, y'know? All about keeping promises even if it nearly kills him. I bet if it weren't for me, he'd let Wapol kill him off. And, sometimes, when he's scared… I can hear him. He talks about monsters and shit. Something about… being taken away, getting eaten up… being all alone…"
"I don't think that's my grandfather's doing," Ace cuts in. He's looking at me again, this time with a resigned look. "Luffy's… always been scared of those things, and I guess you're right. Our grandfather should have done more for him, but he didn't. If that's the case… I'll have to fix that."
I glare, my hand wrapped around my beer can again. "Wanna tell me what's up with the monsters?"
The question causes him to freeze, but after a while, Ace takes a deep breath. "We… had a foster father," he says it so slowly that I think he's almost hesitating. Is it because of Luffy or is it something a lot more personal? "Let's just say… that whenever Luffy does something 'bad,' he'd get punished for it. I think that's why he… started to believe in monsters ever since." What the actual fuck?
I probably blanked out for a bit because everything went all white until I see Ace again, and he's snapping his fingers between my eyes to check if I'm even conscious. Snarling, I swipe his hand away before chugging down the rest of my beer and then slamming it down on the table. "Bastard! Son of a bitch! Who is he? Where the fuck is he? Better tell me because I'm gonna—"
"He's dead," he says blankly, "He's been dead for a very long time."
My fist lands on the table. He doesn't even flinch. "Fuck." To think… it's been going on for that long and I didn't even have a damn clue about it… Worried, my ass—why the hell does Luffy not say shit at all?
"I'm guessing that he never talked about his old foster home."
"I knew he had one, but if he doesn't wanna talk about it… whatever. I ain't gonna force him. Makes a whole lot of sense to me why he never did." Doesn't change the fact that I'm annoyed as fuck. Dammit, Lu. "Yeah, whatever. Point is this—your Grandpa ain't a saint, and he's probably one of those reasons why I think Luffy's a little fucked up in the head. He sort of loosened up a bit… let's Luffy hang out with us as long as he gives him all the details and he follows curfew. Shanks must have talked to him. You met him, right?"
Ace nods with a friendly grin. "He's cool, and he's done Luffy a lot of good. I can see why Luffy likes him a lot."
"Best that's ever happened to him besides all of us. Well, since you're here and alive, that's debatable now." I roll my eyes. Can his grin get any wider? Seriously, this guy really is his brother. "And, yeah… Luffy's kept his promise to your Grandpa ever since. Doesn't show off you-know-what unless it's a real emergency, but with us, it's okay. Even does a few tricks here and there, and we're all cool with it. We just chalk it all up to 'insane family genes,' treat it like whatever and just shut up about it. I think Luffy likes that, y'know? If he thought he was a freak before, we proved him wrong."
"So, that's how his title was kept a secret, huh?"
"Yeah, that's about it. Just kept it as one big secret. Hell, it worked until Luffy had to use you-know-what in your school. People seriously thought that I was the one who beat up Wapol. Annoying sometimes because I get jumped at by random thugs who want a challenge, but hey, Luffy's not the only fighter here. None of Wapol's gang members ain't gonna talk about it. Bartolomeo made sure of that. Also made sure that Wapol ain't gonna talk—not while he's serving jail time with a missing tongue."
A dark frown reappears in his face again as Ace wrinkles his nose. I guess Wapol's name is pretty much taboo now, huh? I think of asking this, but Ace switches back to a smile. Not that it's a really cheerful one, though. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
I shift uncomfortably at the sudden change of topic. I really don't like that glint in his eyes. His smile grows even more crooked. "Yeah, what?"
"Is he more than a friend to you? Are you guys…?"
I snort. Oh, so that's what he's worried about now? "Nah, I ain't his secret boyfriend or whatever the hell you're thinking." He continues to leer at me suspiciously, and I just roll my eyes with both hands up. "Promise, I'm telling you the truth. We don't have anything going on—and first of all, how did you even find out that he's gay?"
"Gaydar," he shoots so quickly that I almost don't catch it. Normally, people who answer that quick are probably giving a bald faced lie, but I look at Ace from top to bottom, and I know that he doesn't have the usual signs like the shifty eyes or the sudden outbreak of sweat. Hell, if it really isn't the truth he's telling me, then he's a damn good liar.
I blow a whistle. "Right, so… you okay with it?"
It takes him a couple of seconds before he finally responds with a shrug. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, my cousin's gay, and I've always been cool with it. I don't really see the difference except that he's my little brother, and it just means that I'm going to make damn sure that his boyfriend—whoever it will be—will treat him right. Otherwise, I kick his ass."
I smirk as we exchange high fives. "Oi, that makes two of us."
"We'll make a good team." He chuckles. "Funny, though… Really thought you two… he really likes you, you know."
"Yeah, yeah, he told me." I lean forward, resting my chin on my palm while watching out for my bike. "I'm bi and all, but… I told him no. No special reason. Luffy… he ain't my type, and even if he is, I just can't see him as anything more than a best friend, you know? And, I ain't gonna lie to him about some damn feelings, get his hopes up and shit. That's a hell of a lot worse, and that's something I don't wanna do to him. He's… he's… been through a lot already… Shit…"
Life's always been a bitch, and I'm no stranger to that fact. I've gone a long way through hell ever since running away from home, but I can damn well say that I've made something out of myself. But, Luffy… yeah, he's got us, he's got people who care so damn much even if he doesn't want us to. His life now isn't that bad… but how much did he have to go through just to get to this point? How much more hell did he actually go through? I didn't even know about what happened in that damn foster home… I didn't know he and Ace were one of those orphans…
Luffy… he can tell me all that shit about "not feeling pain"—like the normal punch-in-the-gut or some accidental paper cut. But, what about all those fucked up fears that have been going on in his head for years—the ones that he tries to hide behind all the smiles, the laughs and his dumbassery? How is that not fucking painful? God, he's not okay. He's not. I'd go nuts if I were him.
Which probably drove him to… to do that…
"Oi, can I ask?" I glance at Ace who blinks in surprise. "Did Luffy ever… tell you that he's gone to the hospital recently?"
"No, and… Mr. Shanks never mentioned it," he answers, but now he's flinching.
Well, damn. I've gone and dug myself into a hole. Should I even be telling him this? It's a freaking miracle that he hasn't flipped out over the Wapol thing, but if I tell him about that time… Fuck, why did I even bother asking that?
"Go ahead," he says, as if he's read my mind just now, "It's for his own good. I can only help him if I know what to expect."
Too late, I guess. There's no way out of it, and I know that Ace isn't going to drop this until I tell him. "You know that Luffy's got… tendencies, right?" I watch him nod slowly before readying myself for the plunge. "When your Grandpa died, he… I think he tried to… kill himself." I nearly choke on the last two words, and now they're just echoing in my head. I fucking hate it.
Ace isn't handling it well either. He's shaking mo re than ever, and he mutters something I can't pick up right. At most, all I heard was a single "What?"
I roughly scratch my head. Goddamn, do I have to say it again? "He tried to kill himself. There was a storm… and he wanted to visit Garp and… well, you, kind of. Took his bike and went riding in the middle of the storm—like shit, who the hell does that? He fell from the slope and crashed really bad... When people found him, there were all these flowers scattered around him, and his head was split open. Had to do a surgery and to stitch him up. Then, he was stuck in a coma for a bit." By the time I finished, all the color was drained from Ace's face.
"Luffy… h-he tried to… suicide?" he says so it weakly that damn—it's painful, and I'm not judging him for it. I'm no hypocrite. No matter how much I hate to admit that I have a weak side, I was just like that, too. But, angrier—and it's not just because of what he did or what I couldn't do.
"As stupid as that was, I'm not going to say it's his fault." I frown. "Luffy doesn't know this, but… I think there was some foul play involved."
Ace switches to a more deadly appearance. "Someone you know?" he immediately asks.
"No clue, but I know it because I'm the only one who fixes his damn bike." I clench my fists, feeling my nails digging deep. "I never told Luffy this. Didn't want to scare him even more than he already is. It's just that… I managed to get his bike back, and I was trying to fix it after the crash. The chain snapped, but… that chain's a completely different make from the one I usually supply him with. Bad quality. Loose links. Less resistant, too, because hell—with how strong he pushes the pedals, he always needs to get his chains switched. That chain he was using that night was bound to break."
"Someone sabotaged his bike." Ace is livid, just about ready to fuck up someone. "Someone sabotaged his bike. Someone tried to kill him. I really want to know who the hell did it." His words are cold and fierce, and again, I can't tell how far he's going to go in order to make certain his promise of death.
"I ain't Sherlock," I tell him, "I wanted the group to know about this, but Killer—he's the only guy I told—he said just to keep things quiet. Didn't want to cause anything else. That, and Luffy's leaving anyway. We figured that he'd be safe with Shanks."
But, oh shit. Shanks will be leaving soon, and Luffy just had to do what he just did in his school. Now, everyone knows the truth—that he's 'The King'—and that son a bitch might just try and do it again. Trust me, Hell will freeze over before he wins this, and when I find out who the bastard is, I'm going to make sure he's fucking dead.
One look at Ace, though, and I know he's plotting the same damn thing. "Just… promise me something, alright?" His attention is on me again as I mumble, "Take care of him and shit. Gangs running after him? I can handle. But, I can only do so much. But you… he needs you for the things I can't fix. Ever since you came into the picture… he's been getting better. It's just a tiny bit… but I can see it."
You're probably the reason why he's still living right now, I wanted to say, but I don't. That's just… fucking cheesy.
But, Ace gets my point because after my pathetic attempt of a speech, he smiles at me warmly. "You're a good friend, Kidd. Can't thank you enough, really." He then offers me the menu, much to my surprise. "Here, let me take care of the bill. Why don't you order something else while you're at it? Maybe even take-out for dinner?"
Oh, God. More charity. "Oi, oi!" I'm feeling hot on the face now, and I slightly rise up from my seat. "I know I don't have a freaking rich old man to support me, but I earn my own money, got that?"
"Think of it as a thank you for watching out for Luffy after all these years." He laughs casually. "I'm also thinking if you need help with your business. Maybe also some materials you'd like for your race bike?"
"Nah, I quit drifting after what happened with Wapol." Again, he twitches at the name. "My garage is enough to support me already."
"You sure you don't want to pursue college? I think you'd do great in engineering or robotics or something."
I sniff, sinking back down to my seat. "Fuck school, especially those damn theories. Bores the shit out of me, so thank fucking God I'm graduating already. I'm better at applying useful shit."
He hums a bit, musing, and then he pulls out his cellphone to text something. Immediately after, I get a text message, and when I check, I can see someone's phone number. I shoot him a questioning look which earns a grin from him.
"I have another cousin," he says, "His name's Franky. Never took college also, but he's a mech genius himself, and he helps run Galley-La Company since it's the family business. Try and call him up and tell him I gave you his number. You can try and score a mentorship from him. No promises, but if things work out, your garage might grow into something even bigger. Plus perks like upgraded materials and stuff."
"Thanks." Oh shit, oh shit. I'm this close to jumping off from my seat like some retard. Not going to happen. Keep cool, Kidd. Keep cool. "I'll consider the offer." Seriously, is this guy for real? Well, I'm pinching myself, and I'm not dreaming…
Again, he nudges the menu towards me. "Order something up. I won't make you leave until you do. Your burger a while ago seemed too small."
I scoff. "With your appetite, everything must be too small." But, I take it anyway and flip through the pages because hell… he's insisting.
Besides, that truffle burger he ate a while ago looked pretty damn solid.
So, tell me more. How did it go?
"I told you. We ate. We chatted. We left. Guy is a major bro-con, but he's cool."
And, did he try to kill you like he said he would?
I take a break from my "grocery list" to roll my eyes. Killer's still flashing his notepad at me, expecting an answer. "Nah."
Told you that it would work out!
Won't say the same for some people, though. I shrug while adding another item that I might need for a new apartment. I'm 18 years old already, and I told Crocus that it's time to move out. I've been saving up my money for a good enough place that offers fair rent, and now I'm just going to have to figure out what else I'll need for my new home.
After a while, I look up at Killer again. He's got a new note written down for me. Have you made the call? Working in Galley-La Company sounds like a very good opportunity for you, Eustass.
"Already did last night, Mom." No way in Hell am I going to pass on it. That Franky guy sounds like a total weirdo, going all "Suuuuuuuuuuuper" and shit, but hey—if Ace says this guy is legit, then he might just be worth learning from. Beats college, definitely.
"Oi, Kidd!" Someone familiar yells, and when I look over my shoulder, I can see Bartolomeo entering while pushing his motorbike with him. Crest hair is as pointy as ever, even after being contained by a helmet.
I roll my eyes, checking his ride from top to bottom. "What the fuck did you do to your bike this time?"
He gives me the middle finger. "My bike's fine!" he argues, "The road's just a bit slippery today, that's all!"
I click my tongue. "Your tires are overinflated, dumbass. That's why your handling's messed up." I put down my pencil and paper before closing in on his motorcycle. He backs off and just lets me do my thing.
I should charge this guy but whatever. Money isn't the issue anymore. I don't know why I even give this dumb ass free service. I guess I just do.
After I press on the valve stem and allow some air to spill out, I join Killer and Bartolomeo again. Killer had offered Bartolomeo a can of soda from my fridge, and by the time I got myself one, he already finished up and tossed his into the trash.
"So, you met up with Ace-daisenpai the other day?" he asks all of a sudden.
I actively cringe. God, I thought he'd save all of those honorifics for Luffy. Can't be anymore wrong. "Yeah, I did. He's got a major bro complex, I'll give you that, but he ain't shady as fuck."
"Hope so. I heard a lotta sayings 'bout him, y'know—about the Newgates."
I shrug while I open my can. Here we go again. But, Killer leans forward—meaning that he's actively listening on this.
"You don't mess with Newgates, Kidd." Bartolomeo actually shivers this time. "You just don't. Cause I heard talk about how they're connected to all this underground shit—real shady stuff, but no one's gonna talk. Even the politicians and the cops ain't gonna say shit. They run this place."
Killer hastily scribbles on his notepad before displaying it for us to read. What kind of stuff?
Bartolomeo frowns as he continues to lean against a wall with folded arms. "Mob stuff. Killing. Spying. Drugs. Gambling circles. Ya name it. They're the 'go-to' mercenary guys, 's what I heard." And, he looks at me while telling me this, but all I do is shrug.
"Whatever." I shake my head. "He's Luffy's brother, and he doesn't hurt him. That's all that matters to me. Besides, it's not like we can take Luffy away from him. He's happy where he is."
It shuts him up for a while, but that frown doesn't leave yet. In fact, it deepens even more. "Oi, Kidd. I gotta ask. Did you… tell Ace-daisenpai about… Wapol?"
I place my soda on the table, somehow not thirsty anymore. "Yeah. He asked about him. Why?"
"Have you heard?" I shake my head, and I nearly want to punch Bartolomeo for holding all that suspense. That's until he finally says it. "Wapol's dead."
"What?"
"Killed himself the other night. Found dead and hanging inside his cell. No one saw it coming." He's speaking faster than normal. Definitely, he's on his edge. "And, you know what I've been hearing? No one's after 'The King' anymore. Declared off-limits all of a sudden, and people are scared. Heard some of Wapol's old gang members are on the run, too. It ain't no coincidence, Kidd." No. Not one at all.
Killer and I exchange looks. His face may be hidden, but I can imagine that he's worried. He's trembling just like all those other times I've got him worried, but I'm not like that. Instead, I shrug while picking up the soda can again and then popping it open as if I haven't heard anything at all.
Whatever. Shady business or not, Ace will keep Luffy safe, and that's what matters. I just have to trust him on that.
~*~ Omake ~*~
Killer: -arms crossed, tapping his foot-
Kidd: -drops wrench- Ugh. Can you fucking stop? You're driving me nuts.
Killer: -picks up phone and texts- I cannot believe you.
Kidd: What did I do?
Killer: You sent Luffy to Bartolomeo. By the time we see him again, he'll be missing a tongue!
Kidd: Yeah, well, fuck. He's annoying.
Killer: Eustass, he's not bad. He's a bit on the quirky side, but he's a good friend. I think you should give him a chance.
Kidd: Fuck, no. You're not stuck with him every fucking day to hear him talk about meat, pooping and other shit.
Killer: Pooping?
Kidd: Yeah. Literal shit. Doesn't matter because after today, I'm never going to hear—
Luffy: -runs into the garage and glomps Kidd- HI, KIIIIIIIIDD!
Kidd: -struggling from Luffy's iron grip- WHAT THE FUCK?
Bartolomeo: -also runs in, crying with snot- LUFFY-SENPAI! LUFFY-SENPAI! WAIT FOR ME! I'LL FOLLOW WHEREVER YOU GOOOOOO! –cries on the floor now-
Luffy: -giggles- Hey, Kidd. That friend you told me to go see is really funny.
Bartolomeo: -collapses completely- HE CALLED ME "FRIEND!"
Kidd: -kicks Bartolomeo- YOU HAD ONE JOB. ONE. FUCKING. JOB.
Bartolomeo: -sobs- My life is complete…
Luffy: -poking him with a wrench now-
Kidd: -sits on the chair- That's it. I don't believe this. Fuck this. I should probably send that dumb ass to that fucking Anti-Christ in the neighborhood...
Killer: You mean… Basil Hawkins, right?
Kidd: That's what I said. The fucking Anti-Christ. No way that little shit is going to survive…
Killer: -sighs-
Author's Note: No, Kidd. When it comes to Luffy, you just can't win. :P
And, so we have a new perspective coming from Kidd-specifically about Luffy and about who Garp was back when he was alive. More details to come, of course. After all, this is just Kidd's POV. :)
Oh, and yes, he means it. He's not Ace's competition in this fanfic. I've heard from people who were worried, so yeah, I hope this clears things up. :)
Soooo... on to the next chapter: We're heading back to our sweet cinnamon bun who needs to be protected: Luffy. What will Ace do now that he knows stuff?
Reviews much appreciated!