Hi...
Oh lord. You guys are going to hate me.
This chapter... was hard. That's why it took so long to write.
I must warn you guys. It's not pretty.
Relevant Tarot Cards for this chapter:
The Ten of Cups: This card predicts good times with those we love; reunions, holidays, special occasions. If any such are coming up, the querent can be told that they'll go better than expected.
The Devil: Most Tarot cards urge balance, unity, restraint, yin-yang. Not this card. The Devil, to the contrary, is a card that revels in extremity, excess and loss of control. This is arguably the most powerful and dangerous card in a deck. At its absolute worst, it is the card of the addict or the stalker, totally obsessed, enslaved and relentless...
The Ten of Cups - The Devil
"Who do we have here? It's been ages since I've seen that face."
Luffy gulped and forced a smile. "Yeah..."
"Wait, you two know each other?" Ace asked with a questionning smile.
"Ridiculously small world, right?" Kid said, chuckling. "Look at you, Monkey..."
A feeling of panic took over Luffy as Kid made a move as if to come closer to him, so he quickly walked to the safest place in the room; the right side of Ace's bed. The bed in between him and Kid would have to do to keep him away.
He took Ace's hand in his and looked up at Kid nervously when he noticed him not coming over. "It sure has been a while," he whispered back with a nod. He then turned his attention to Ace so he could kiss him. "Hey."
"Hi," Ace whispered back, grinning and taking a moment to look at his boyfriend a bit longer.
There was definitely something off.
"How do you guys know each other?" he wondered, turning his head to look at Kid, who had been watching Luffy with a derisive sneer.
"From Mariejois Academy," Kid replied, eyes still on Luffy, watching how he now seated himself on the chair next to Ace's bed. "He and I were neighbours in the dorm complex he stayed at."
Ace's eyebrows shot up as he now understood their connection, but still feeling like he wasn't getting the entire story. Luffy'd become suspiciously silent and he had his eyes directed to the door as if he yearned to get out of the room.
"We were neighbours all through his freshman, sophomore and junior years at college," Kid explained to Ace, chuckling. "Isn't that, right, Monkey?"
Luffy nodded quietly with a forced smile, furtively looking at the redhead. "We lost touch after you suddenly left Mariejois 2 years ago. I never knew where you went..."
Kid laughed silently, grinning proudly. "I got accepted into Marineford Elite Militairy School," he answered, spreading his arms to show off his decorated officer's uniform. "As you can see."
Luffy only glanced his way again, visibly less at ease than the moment before. "Good for you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Ace's expression now turned into a worried one as he continued to observe Luffy, understanding the signals he was sending. "Hey, babe, I've been looking at that basket with cheese you brought me yesterday all day long, but I've been too lazy to get out of bed to get me some..." he grinned when Luffy began to stand with a smirk.
"You're getting way too used to this," Luffy murmured, still smiling.
"Would you mind ordering me some dinner, too, Luffy?" Ace then asked, voice gone soft. "You can tell the nurse at the reception desk that the menu of the day is fine..."
Luffy quieted at that, understanding what Ace was doing. "Yeah, I'll be right back," he said gratefully as he turned and left the room.
"What's the deal here?" Ace asked Kid immediately after Luffy had gone, a mistrusting look on his face.
Kid chuckled humourlessly. "Whoa, whoa... I'm the one who should be asking this question, don't you think? Since when are you and Monkey an item?"
Ace scowled. "I asked you a question first, Eustass. Obviously you and him have history."
Kid smirked. "Why don't you ask your new piece of ass about me? I'm sure he'd love to tell you all about it..."
Ace felt his blood run cold at the disrespectful tone Kid employed. "I care about Luffy. Very much so. And it would seem that he can't stand the thought of being in the same room with you. Hence the reason I'm asking you."
Kid began to laugh, rather hard, at that. "Dude, why the fuck should I be put on the spot? Just because you and your boyfriend can't seem to talk openheartedly about stuff that happened in your pasts, I shouldn't be the one to defend myself now." He shook his head amusedly and grabbed his coat from the chair behind him. "Have a talk with Monkey first and then come find me, Ace. What he has to tell you certainly is an interesting tale to be told."
Ace watched him put on his jacket with a glare, knowing that he couldn't work himself up too much because of the medication he was now on. "You fucked him," he growled, having deduced at least that much from the stares Kid had been giving Luffy.
"Repeatedly," Kid replied, a sickening grin growing on his face. "Incessantly and thoroughly."
"Eustass!" Ace yelled, now seething. "If you so much as lay a hand on him-"
"Keep your flames of anger in check, buddy," Kid whispered in mocking concern. "You just had heart surgery."
"I'm serious, Eustass," Ace growled, already breathing harder than normal.
Kid rolled his eyes and waved his comment away. "Yeah, yeah I can tell by your continual use of my last name." He then moved to stand at the end of his bed, shrugging. "Check it out; if Monkey had told you about him and me upfront, you would've been prepared and we could've avoided all this awkwardness. I have no clue as to how he managed to get you to start dating him, but it's not my fault he didn't tell you." He then gave him an instrusive glare from the corner of his eyes. "Just as I'm sure it's not his fault that you haven't told him about our shared past."
"We only met a week ago," Ace said quietly, the scowl he already wore only deepening from his growing resentment towards the redhead.
Kid grinned even broader, raising an eyebrow briefly in condescension as he face him fully again. "Ah... then there's all the more to discover..." he whispered, walking towards the door. "You know where I'm staying at, Chief!" he called, moving his hand in a greeting gesture as he exited the room.
Ace gritted his teeth for moment, but took a breath a second later.
There was so much he and Luffy hadn't told each other, but he refused to have him tell him everything at once. He couldn't expect that; it wouldn't be fair.
Luffy had already in a way told him that his past wasn't something he was ready to discuss and he respected that.
Kid always had a knack for antagonizing people. And even though he'd been glad to see his old friend, he just couldn't tolerate some of his antics anymore, especially if it put the ones he cared about in uncomfortable and painful situations. None of his friends could stand him, and it wasn't like he and him parted on the best terms.
Kid couldn't have just returned to see how he was doing though, could he? Because where was he the last few times he'd had to undergo chemotherapy or surgery?
Why was he really here, after almost 10 years?
"Luffy."
Ace looked up, shaken from his thoughts at the sight of his small frame standing by the door.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions," Luffy whispered approaching his bed cautiously.
"None of which need answering right now," Ace replied without a second thought. He reached out for him longingly and smiled when he saw him leap towards him and into a tender hug.
"I'll tell you everything... I promised you I would, and I will," Luffy whispered over his shoulder, closing his eyes.
Ace rested his head against his and smiled too. "I have no doubt about it."
Luffy took a shaky breath and opened his eyes.
Even with his eyes open, he couldn't keep the images from his time with Kid Eustass to flash in his mind's eye.
He'd been a different person then.
A different person he never, ever wanted to be again.
In a place he never, ever wanted to find himself again either.
Her body fit his perfectly as it lay trembling underneath his on their bed.
The ways she responded to him only made him ache for her more, her gentle smile making him fall in love with her all over again.
This gorgeous woman was his and he'd already decided for himself that he would stay by her, come what may. She was the love of his life and he was well-aware that he'd lucked out tremenduously when he found out that she actually loved him back.
Luffy's sister had always been a topic of conversation with his buddies during his high-school years, her beauty and elegance reknown in all of Sabaody when she started dating the mighty owner of Crocodile Corp. who she ultimately married in a big and lavish wedding. His curiosity only grew when he befriended Luffy during his senior year.
The first time he'd seen her, was when he brought Luffy home one night from one of their High School Football Championship games. She'd opened the door to them in a tank top and a pair of skinny jeans. Her black hair had been tied in a bun on the top of her head and she'd worn glasses and carried a large book on economics.
She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid his eyes on.
When Luffy introduced them to each other and he got to shake her hand, he'd felt himself get flustered; her soft hand laying in his sending tingles down his spine he'd never experienced in his whole 18 years of existence.
He'd been smitten ever since.
Of course, the day she married Crocodile he was heartbroken, but it pained him even more when it got known how much the marriage had made her suffer. Winning her for him was the furthest thing on his mind when her divorce was finally official, because all he could think about was her well-being. Luffy had his own scandal with Shanks to worry about and their father was too busy solidifying his Media Emporium in Water 7. There wasn't really anyone else she could count on to give her the emotional support she needed, and it was only when he and Sanji passed by the Mansion she once shared with her husband that they both whitnessed how alone she really felt.
Dragon bought his daughter and son their current residence on Mangrove Hills right before Luffy enrolled into Mariejois Academy and he did not hesitate to lend a hand to help her move. He was still grieving the loss of his father, Koshiro, but he still took the time to stand by her during her own period of mourning.
The black diamond glistenened on her finger as her left hand came to rest on her rapidly rising and falling chest, the precious stone complementing her eyes beautifully.
A smile curled on her lips as she caught him staring at the ring. "I'm not giving it back."
He laughed with her at that, leaning in to kiss her. "Good. Please don't."
Robin grinned happily and kissed him again, sighing contently as he pressed his lips on the junction of her neck and right shoulder. "Zoro," she whispered, taking his head in both her hands to make him look at her. "I love you," she solemnly declared, looking him deeply in the eyes. "I want you to know with all my heart that you are everything I'd hoped for and everything I need in a man. You make me feel like a woman should feel without having to trade in her femininity in any way. You make me beautiful just because you love me. Day in, day out."
He kissed her again and then watched her arch her back as he push inside of her once more, smiling with her when she opened her eyes and pulled him back down on top of her for another kiss.
She'd told him about her visit to the gynaecologist.
He wasn't going to deny that the news was a bad one, but he chose to see it as a challenge. It certainly did not make him love her less. He shared her pain and angry frustration because of what happened 4 years ago, but they'd get through this together. They would keep trying to make their dream of a family a reality.
The black diamond ring he gave her was a testament to that.
A promise.
"Show me! Show me!"
Nami leaned over the table to look at the ring with a delighted expression, biting her lower lip excitedly as she grabbed Robin's hand. "It's so gorgeous!" she sighed dreamily. "Oh, congrats you guys!" she then said, laughing as she took Robin into her arms and hugged her.
Robin hugged her back and then looked at the friends that had gathered around their dinner table in the courtyard. "It was about damn time," she quietly said with a shake of her head and a chuckle.
Luffy laughed along with Chopper, Usopp, Kaya, Sanji and Franky who'd gathered that night at their house when they heard the news of his sister's engagement. "Grandpa'll be relieved."
"He's not the only one," Zoro commented back, grinning up at Robin as she sat down in his lap and stuck out her tongue to him playfully.
"You'll make the most beautiful bride, Robin," Sanji said, raising his champagne glass to the couple. "I wish you lots of happiness together."
They all followed suit and raised their glasses, expressing congratulory words and well-wishes.
"Zoro, my man," Usopp said afterwards, looking at him seriously from the other side of the table."Just remember that she's always, always right, and your marriage'll be a breeze."
"Just like ours, right honey?" Kaya said with a joking smirk.
Usopp put up a big goofy grin and nodded. "Yes, dear."
The engaged couple laughed heartedly at that, holding each other tighter.
"So when's the d-day?" Franky wondered, grinning at them.
Zoro and Robin looked at each other for a moment and smirked. "February 10th," Robin announced to them with a nod.
"The Saturday after her birthday," Zoro clarified.
"And of course," Robin began with an eye on her brother. "I want you to organise it, if you're up for it."
Luffy grinned. "That leaves me with what, 5 months? That's more than enough time. I'll get it done, sis."
"And you, shitty cook," Zoro said, looking at the blond chef. "You better make us some good food to eat."
Sanji chuckled derisively. "Well, someone has to make Robin's day memorable. Might as well be me, since you won't be the one to do it."
Nami shook her head amusedly, putting her hand against her forehead. "Can't you give it a rest, it'll be their wedding day..."
Robin giggled and wrapped her arms around her husband to be, kissing him on his cheek. "We appreciate it, Sanji," she said, smiling amusedly at the vein that had popped on the side of Zoro's face.
"Alright," Luffy then said, having thought of an idea. "How about we have an engagement party at 'The Bloom Room' tomorrow? The Mermaid Room sounds perfect for this."
The entire table made agreeing sounds.
"It's short notice, but I think we should be able to pull it off?" Luffy wondered, looking at his sister.
"Tomorrow is the launch of our new concept on every third Thursday of the month; 'Cutty Thursdays' featuring our very own Dj Cutty Flam. The mainroom will be packed, but the Mermaid Room should be free." she answered, smirking at Franky as she saw him grin. "I can't wait to dance to Cutty Flam's tracks tomorrow."
"Should I invite Vivi?" Nami asked, looking at the rest of them. "I heard she's dating someone, so perhaps she'll want to come?"
"That's a great idea," Luffy said, knowing that he'd have to find a way to integrate Ace's friends into his group of friends and eventhough he didn't really like the guy, it seemed like Law was the perfect way to accomplish this.
"I've remixed some of her songs and added them to tomorrow's playlist," Franky said, giving Nami his thumbs up. "She hasn't heard them yet, but I'm sure she and you guys will love them!"
"You guys all befriended the songstress?" Kaya questioned, looking at her friends first before turning to her husband. "And here I thought you were exaggerating again."
"Who, me?" Usopp wondered, faking an innoncent smile.
Kaya grinned at him and shook her head, leaning in for a kiss.
"I would love to have her there," Robin said, gracefully bringing a fork with buttercream cake to Zoro's mouth. "I'll ask her tomorrow at the shoot. I've really grown to like her," she admitted, watching her fiancé eat the cake with a loving smile.
"Gaaah, I really regret not being able to be there tomorrow," Sanji grunted.
Nami placed a conforting hand on his arm. "I'm sure Vivi understands. It would've been a great opportunity though."
"Right?" Sanji replied with a shake of his head. "All the world celebrities who're native to Sabaody are going to be there, and the most important one will be missing."
Nami rolled her eyes jokingly. "Yeah, I'm sure her videoclip is ruined now because of the fact that you won't be there tomorrow."
Luffy chuckled at their conversation, realizing how well the both of them went together. He had his head in the clouds most of the time and she was down to earth. They complemented each other perfectly.
"What is Vivi like?" Chopper wondered, looking up at Luffy who was seated next to him.
"Why don't you ask Dr Trafalgar?" Luffy responded with a knowing grin.
"Trafalgar Law?" Kaya wondered, eyes growing wide as Luffy nodded.
The reindeer's eyes went wide at that. "Eh?! They're... Law and... Since when...?"
Luffy shrugged, not knowing the answer to the question. "But they did kiss after the concert on Monday."
Nami smirked and shook her head. "She's only told me that he's insanely hot, is it true?"
Luffy pursed his lips and cocked his head to the side. "Let me put it this way; If he was gay and we met under better circumstances and Ace wasn't in the picture, I'd have hit that in a heartbeat," he calmly said, chuckling along with the others as they laughed at his statement.
She chuckled and bit her lip amusedly. "But-?"
"I find him to be a dick," Luffy answered with a shrug.
"He's also a friend of Ace's, so I've been around him enough to know. If she likes dicks, it's her choice. No pun intented."
Nami laughed along with the rest of them. "Sounds like the kind of guy Vivi likes," she commented, shaking her head amusedly. "Good looking bad boys."
"Then he's perfect for her," Luffy said, reaching for his vibrating phone in the backpocket of his jeans, frowning as he looked at its screen. It was a message from an unknown number that contained a video.
He put his phone on mute and clicked on the message, making sure that no one around him could see it, just in case.
He opened the video file and immediately felt all blood drain from his face.
It was a video of him.
And multiple other men.
Fucking him.
Feeding him their cocks, their semen, their spit...
Over and over. One after the other.
And he begged them.
Teased them, even.
For more.
Again and again.
Luffy shut down his phone and excused himself from the table, feeling sick to his stomach. He made his way into the darkened incoming hall and found Sanji's jacket, took a cigarette and a lighter from his spare pack, ran towards the abandonned terrace and lit the end of the stick, taking a long drag as he willed the horror and the unsurmontable fear he felt away. He couldn't stop the trembling of his limbs, nor the flowing of his tears as he stared at the lit up city in the distance.
There was no place left to hide anymore.
The next day passed by in a haze again.
Choosing to keep himself from stressing about the video that had obviously been sent by Kid, Luffy let himself drown in his work instead, gladly accepting the stress that came with that. He found himself not having the time to worry about his poor decisions of the past, his workschedule for that Thursday being too jampacked.
Vivi was shooting the second part of her promotional video for the Mera S today, along with the shots that would be used in her new video for her new single featuring DJ Cutty Flam.
Since Franky had other obligations that day, they were shooting the party scene in the morning on the rooftop of Club Vinyl which had an open air patio and a dancefloor with illuminated floor panels. The idea was to have Vivi performing her choreography with some local street dancers on there and the extra's cheering her on by the sidelines while Franky spun the tables. The location had been chosen because it'd been perfect for overhead shots with the signature buildings of Sabaody City and the Dome in the background.
Another scene was shot indoors in one of the club's rooms with many personalities native to Sabaody. Robin was there, the sister designers Bonney and Whitey, Duval from the Rosy Life crew, the beatboxer/ rapper Scratchmen Apoo, the Pro Wrestler Urouge and teen heartthrob/ singer, dancer and actor Coby Morgan.
The indoor club scene was directed in a way that every celebrity got a cameo in it, the women got to dance in freestyle with the songstress on the dancefloor, while Duval and Scratchmen lipsynced the chorus with her and Urouge exhibited his monstruous strength by picking her up with a hand and carrying her around on his shoulder while she giggled in delight.
Coby was there to share the scenes in which Vivi would be lounging on a couch and singing the slow moments of the song, acting as her love interest. They'd worked together before on a song and had great chemistry. Being back together in this video was going to be a wink to their shared fans for the upcoming collaboration on her new album.
By the time Franky and Duval left the set around 3 O'clock that afternoon, the director called in a general break for all performers of the video and Luffy suddenly found himself approached by Coby, sitting himself next to him on the huge white leather couch of the lounge. He looked up from the tablet he'd been working on and smiled at him.
"Hello, I'm Coby Morgan."
Luffy grinned and took the hand he was extending. "You really don't need to introduce yourself anymore, you know?" he smirked back, shaking his head.
"Well, it's polite to do so, isn't it?" Coby answered back, a smile creeping on his handsome features. "If I'm not mistaken, you're Luffy, right?"
"I am," Luffy replied, putting his tablet next to him on the couch.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I recognised your name when Vi mentionned it," Coby admitted, sitting back in his seat.
Luffy rose a curious eyebrow. "You did? From where?"
"Mariejois Academy," Coby said, watching Luffy's eyes grow wide with amazement.
"Seriously?" Luffy chuckled before shaking his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, I wish I could say the same about you... uhm..."
Coby laughed at that and shook his head. "I was a year behind you, when you got your Master's degree this year, I got my Bachelor's. But it was a chance encounter with you at the Student's café on Campus that stuck by me. I was overwhelmed by the idea of College, having had nothing other than my movie career since I was a child to rely on. It was the first time I wanted something, just for me and it scared me. You gave me the courage to pursue my own dreams and reach my goals."
"Wait," Luffy whispered, suddenly remembering a conversation in the Student's Café three years ago with a chubby, angsty freshman. "That was you? Dude, you look nothing like I remember!"
Coby laughed again. "I get that remark a lot these days."
"Man..." Luffy said, shaking his head in disbelieve at how much Coby had changed. He would even go as far as saying that he looked very attractive. "I'm glad to hear you made it. I had no idea you were originally from Sabaody too."
"I am, but I've been all over the world with my movies and music so a lot of people don't really know where I'm actually from," the pink haired youth informed him. "Either way, I'm really glad I was able to properly thank you for what you did for me, Luffy."
Luffy only smiled in acknowledgement, a little surprised by the fact that his words had been a source of motivation for someone else.
Coby smiled back and nodded. "We should get drinks sometime. I hear Cutty Flam is playing at 'The Bloom Room' tonight?"
"Yes, he is. Do you need VIP arrangements?" Luffy offered.
"My manager has me covered, but thanks for asking," Coby replied. "Are you going?"
Luffy nodded, "Yes, I'll be there. My sister, Robin, is having her engagement party tonight as well." He made a movement with his head in the direction of where she stood talking to Whitey, Bonney and Vivi by the bar.
Coby looked over at the women, eyes going wide. "She is? Then I'll need to congratulate her later. 'The Bloom Room' is really starting to become the place to be for Sabaody's nightlife. Your sister is a very intelligent entrepeneur, Luffy."
Luffy grinned proudly. "That she is."
Coby nodded and then stood again, getting ready to leave. "Thanks again, Luffy. I'll see you tonight?"
"See you tonight, Coby," he replied, smiling warmly at him.
As Coby walked away, he saw his sister coming over. She stopped in her approach to exchange a few words with Coby and he grinned as they hugged and she expressed her thanks. He took back his tablet in his hands, getting ready to videocall Ace.
"Hey, guess what I found out," Robin said a moment later, plopping down next to him.
"What?"
"Bonney over there has been in a serious relationship with Nami's sister, Nojiko for over 3 years now."
Luffy raised his eyebrows, visibly surprised at this piece of news. "It's funny how everyone I've met since I came back has a link to another person I know or that I've recently met," Luffy remarked, looking at his sister amusedly. "Whitey and Bonney both went to the same High School as Ace and Marco."
"And Marco is Whitey's husband," Robin said, nodding.
"Whitey designed all of Vivi's outfits from her last concert tour," Luffy added. "And Vivi in turn is dating one of Ace's friends, who happens to be the new doctor at Chopper's Clinic and she's also good friends with Coby Morgan, who, apparently, I met in my second year at college and to whom I'm accused to have given motivational advice."
"Good God!" Robin giggled at the sarcastic tone of his brother, knowing he only used it for comedic effect. "Are you making a call?" she then asked as she saw him open up the application for videochatting.
"Yeah, I'm calling Ace to tell him I won't be able to see him tonight," he said before grinning at her. "Care to tell him why?"
"So you'd rather be with him, than at my party?" Robin replied jestingly, chuckling as Luffy stuck out his tongue to her.
"Hey, are you calling Hot Stud?" Whitey called, having heard them and starting to come over.
"Shit, I haven't had the time to see him in the hospital yet!" Bonney chimed in, following her sister. "Let me say hi to him too!"
"Oh, you mean Ace? Law's friend, right?" Vivi said, taking her bottle of water from the bar and coming over too.
Urouge and Scratchmen, who'd been standing nearby, moved to a spot behind the couch and the siblings, wanting to see too. "I think I've heard his name before..." Scratchmen commented.
Luffy grinned, amused by the fact that he was now surrounded by all the celebs of Sabaody who wanted to see Ace.
"Ace?" Luffy called, making sure that Ace's videofeed was off for the time being.
"Hi...!"
They all laughed at how groggy his voice sounded.
"Luffy, where are you? Who's there with you?"
Luffy chuckled at his suspicious tone. "Oh, I'm just hangin' and chillin' on set with the beautiful designer sisters Whitey and Bonney, my gorgeous sister Robin, lovely Vivi and the talented Coby Morgan, as well as the awesome Scratchmen Apoo and the amazing 'Mad Monk' Urouge." They all supressed their laughter and Luffy continued. "What are you doing? Did you just wake up?"
"Wait, they're all there? Even... even Mad Monk?"
Luffy looked up at the wrestler behind him with a grin. "Don't go all fanboy on me yet. I'm going to open up my video feed, you don't need to open up yours if you don't feel like it, okay?"
They suddenly had an image of Ace who was sitting in his bed, waving at all of them with a big goofy grin. "I definitely feel like it."
Everyone laughed and Luffy opened up his video feed, loving the expression of amazement on Ace's face as all of them were revealed to him. "Hi!"
There was a sound like an excited squeek that came out of Ace's throat and Luffy chuckled.
"I thought I had heard your name before!" Scratchmen said, leaning in closer to the small screen. "Portgas! Do you recognise me? We took finance classes together at Sabaody U."
"I should be asking you that question, Apoo. You're the one who's famous now!"
Scratchmen chuckled. "I'll ask Luffy here to give me the address of your current whereabouts and I'll come visit your sick ass!"
"Bring an autograph from the Mad Monk with you!" he requested excitedly before adressing the wrestler apologetically. "If that's okay with you of course, Mr Urouge?"
Urouge chuckled, his deep voice vibrating through the room. "Of course," he said, making a handgesture to a nearby PA to bring him pen and paper. "It's Ace, right?"
Luffy let all of those who wanted to, exchange some pleasantries with Ace, realizing now more than ever that Ace always managed to bring smiles to other people's faces.
And to have his own heart flutter with joy, just by seeing him.
Their four course dinner had ended, the waiters having taken their plates away mere moments ago. The blue themed Mermaid Room had double doors on each end, one giving access to the second floor of the establishment and the VIP Rooms, the other doors giving direct access to the balcony on the second floor of the main concert room.
'The Bloom Room''s main room was packed with people who purchased their ticket to the sold-out first edition of Cutty Thursdays.
The moment Franky arrived on the stage, the gathered crowd went out of their mind as the first beat of his signature track began to play.
Franky's title track was the cue for them to hit their private dancefloor and Zoro stood up from his seat to invite Robin to go watch their friend play. Kaya and Usopp followed suit, with Sanji and Nami close behind them.
Luffy watched Law kiss Vivi before they made their way to the balcony too, leaving him alone with Chopper.
"Don't you want to go out there?" he asked the reindeer, who reached for his glass of juice from the table.
"Aren't you coming with?" Chopper asked in return.
Luffy shook his head, not entirely in the mood to be dancing right now. "You go on ahead," he softly said, smiling as he watched him jump off his chair with his drink.
Truth was that he was itching for a cigarette, a clear sign that he was getting nervous and restless again. Even his sister's engagement party hadn't been enough to get his mind off of Kid and their past together.
He needed to know how much material Kid had on him. He knew Eustass Kid to be an obnoxious and arrogant asshole with a twisted sense of humour and an insatiable sex drive with a whole list of kinks that went with it.
His worst fear right now was for Ace to find out about the lewd things he did without having had the chance to properly explain the circumstances which drove him to such lows.
Kid had been the easy choice back then; right next door to his dorm appartment, no questions, no obligations, just raw and unadultured sex whenever he felt like his pain got to be too much for him to handle.
And he saw now, how much of a mistake Kid had been. One he regretted deeply.
Luffy grunted and shook his head, standing and walking out of the room and down the stairs leading to the main bar on the groundfloor. From there he took the service exit towards the private parking lot around the back of the building. He walked towards the exit in the fence that gave out on a small alley and lit his cigarette, closing his eyes as he inhaled the smoke in deeply, cherishing the toxic burn in his lungs.
He opened his eyes again and exhaled, finding a pair of light brown eyes staring back at him.
"Boo."
"Fuck!" Luffy yelled, stumbling backwards towards the side wall of the building. "What the fuck!" he breathed, heart racing as a familiar laugh echoed through the night. "What-?"
This couldn't be happening.
He found himself staring at a self-contently looking Kid, his expression quickly changing into one of frightened apprehension.
"What, what?" Kid mimicked him, grinning amusedly. "I looked you up, Monkey. That's how I found you. Fucking Ace doesn't come without perks, does it?"
Luffy let out a trembling breath, fear taking a hold of him as he recognized the wild look in his eyes. "That's not-"
"Shhh..." The redhead looked him over with badly disguised contempt. "Did you enjoy the video I sent you, Monkey?" he whispered, moving closer with a slight hop in his step. He ran a hand through Luffy's black locks when he had him pinned against the wall with his body, grabbing a fistful of hair and grinning at his gasp of pain. "Oh no," he mockingly murmured in Luffy's left ear as he tried to wriggle out of his hold. "There's no Ace to put in between us anymore..."
Luffy grunted in pain again and pushed the burning part of the cigarette he was still holding against the wrist keeping him captive. "Get your fucking hands off of me!" he yelled.
"You little bitch slut!" Kid snarled in pain, backhand slapping Luffy across the face violently enough to make him hit the concrete floor of the alleyway.
The palm of Luffy's right hand landed on a stray piece of glass, cutting flesh and he cried out, exclaiming in pain again when Kid dragged him back on his feet by his left arm to face him, pushing Luffy back against the wall and smirking when he heard the dull thud when the back of Luffy's head hit the bricks behind him. He took advantage of his moment of dissorientation to take him by his throat.
"Eustass...!" Luffy whimpered, both hands frantically clawing at his much larger one that was slowly, but surely squeezing his throat shut. His head was spinning and he felt like he'd throw up any minute.
"Remember this game, little Monkey?" Kid spoke in his ear again, chuckling at his feeble attempts to get free. He then noticed the blood that was getting smeared all over his wrist and rapidly darted his tongue out for a taste of it, groaning in excitement, watching him struggle more. "How I'd fuck you while you begged me to go harder, deeper and faster while I held your neck like this."
"Stop...!" Luffy grunted as the last of his breath was being stolen from him, feeling him unbutton his pants and pushing them down far enough. "Eustass, no..." he whimpered, fighting harder against the bigger man's hold and now hearing the distinct sound of a zipper being pulled down. "Please, no!"
"Tell you what?" Kid murmured, letting go of Luffy's neck just as quick as he turned him around so he faced the wall. "How about you close your eyes and pretend I'm your precious Shanks, eh? That's what always got my Monkey going, isn't it?"
Luffy coughed and desperately gulped for air, his throbbing left cheek resting against the cool bricks of the wall, blinking rapidly as tears began to acumulate in his eyes.
The entire world was spinning and his nausea only worsened.
This couln't be happening.
"You look your best when you're drenched in cum, little Monkey," Kid breathed in his neck, his hand back around his throat, pressing him against wall. He positionned himself against him. "You love it, you can't fool me with your decent boyfriend act. And goodie-two-shoes Ace will see through it soon, too."
Luffy sobbed pitifully at that and screamed into the hand that came to cover his mouth as Kid thrust inside without warning or care. His sobs and muffled screams resounded through the night and Kid never relented, never slowed down, the pain only growing as he continued to bleed and beg and whimper.
As his body was about to give out on him, he could've sworn to have seen a flash of pink cross his blurry line of vision before all went black.
To be continued...
In: 11. The King of Wands - The Chariot
-BDP-