The streets were crowded with people, but that hadn't stopped them from parting once seeing the familiar face of Ace. The Donquixote had created quite a reputation in the places they stayed, some good others . . . bad. That reputation didn't stray far from Ace as he was no innocent or saint from the public eyes, he may have been the most merciful of the bunch (Baby 5 not knowing any better than to just listen to whatever Doffy ordered her to do) but by no means was not a problem to those that opposed them, especially given enemies. As far as some of the town was concerned, Ace was an uncontrollable pyromaniac and because he lacked said control, it made him all that much scarier in comparison to the rest of the group.
"What do you want, Corazon? Wanna fight?"
Ace's head snapped in the direction of the sound before his legs began moving frantically towards the voice heh knew all too well. "Bingo." He whispered to himself before halting to a stop in front of an alley, making sure to lean against the wall to seem as though he was just enjoying his time outside to a passing pedestrian. After a couple of minute passed he hid behind a trash can listening to the conversation he was starting to deem meaningless after just a couple of shouts of insults. 'Oh, nevermind. It's just the usual.' Until the older man, whispered a certain word.
"Secret name? The D? You have to leave."
Ace's brows raised near his hairline, "What why?" He felt himself whispering the responses, since Law had been stricken into silence. Law was a 'D'? Wait what even was a D and why was it important, as far as Ace was concerned it was simply just a middle name and held no importance except for being the middle initial one would right down on the paper if they off handedly decided to.
"Get away from Doffy!"
"What!" Ace had let his audible mistake slip out, making himself known to the two in the alleyway. "Uh oh . . ."
Both heads slowly turned towards the sound of the noise. "Come out or i'll kill you." Ace could tell that was Law talking in his usually stoic and straightforward way of threatening someone he didn't know.
He guiltily stepped out from behind the trash can, "I highly doubt you can." However, he directed his attention on the older man, "You! Why? Doffy?" Ace couldn't quite formulate the sentences as the once lost shock began to rinse over him.
"It's none of your concern, brat. Get lost." Corazon muttered before looking down on the other kid. "Go back to the meeting." Law nodded eagerly.
Ace balled his fist, "Well it is my business, especially now that i'm here." He breathed slowly, every breath helping him to concentrate, "So why Doffy?"
Corazon sighed before taking a seat on some resting wooden crates, "None. Of. Your. Business." He sighed, tiredness marking his features.
"Portgas! Portgas D. Ace" Ace practically shouted to him, before biting his lip. "So why get away from Doffy? I told him my name already!" He exclaimed hesitantly, not sure if he wanted the answer.
"You have a 'D' in your name too?" Law looked at him out of the corner of his eye.
Ace ignored him, keeping his gaze on Corazon. To be honest the older kid didn't have a problem with Ace, the problem was Ace himself. It was true Ace was jealous of how much everyone loved Law, they loved him nearly as much as they loved ACE. He'd be damned if he busted his ass every week, only to be shown out by some doctor wannabe.
The cigarette went limp before tapping the ground. It took a minute for Corazon to regain his posture, "Sit down you two. We have to make this quick."
"Calm, Calm," Corazon snapped his fingers and Ace noticed an aura spread over them.
Compared to Law's spazzing nature over the sudden change in Corazon's character, Ace was ridiculously relaxed and easily accepting of it all.
Ace had listened to it all from Doffy's past to the fact that his "people" could be the natural enemies of the gods. He also noticed Buffalo and Baby 5 peeping around the corner, trying to listen in on the conversation.
Ace was silent as his pupils slid to focus back on Corazon, "Mm." He put his hand up to his chin, while his head worked a thousand miles per hour.
Law began to tremble with what Ace could only guess was anger or frustration, "I don't know what you're talking about! I joined the family to kill every single person as violently as possible." He gasped for air, "I'm not your subordinate! I am Doflamingo's subordinate!"
Ace's vein grew as he heard that and was going to interfere with the other boys declaration, however, Law proved he was far from finish.
"I'm gonna die in a year! What should I do if I get out of here?!" He screamed, his lungs by the sound of it were on the verge of giving out.
Ace raised his eyebrows, he wasn't expecting that last part, far from it. He hadn't taken the time to get to know Law and to say he was shook from that statement was an understatement
"I became stronger in the last two years! That serves you right." Law shouted as his small foot steps padded through the hallway.
Ace snapped back to reality as he realized the dumpster caught fire and Law had ran away. He looked around before running off as well. 'This wasn't his problem. Was it?'
"Corazon!" Doffy made his way to the deck as he looked down towards his brother.
As Ace stepped up beside him, the shock was easy to identify in the man's face. Especially when his eyesight focused on the younger boy.
There was a stare off, before doffy broke the silence, "You're back. We gotta set sail! It's Tsuru from the Navy HQ again! They know we're here." Feather fluttered off his back as he turned around, "Hurry up."
The man was speechless, Ace could tell that much as he watched him dropped down to his knees. However, he hadn't cared enough to stare at the man, waiting for him to get up, so he simply treaded behind Doffy struggling to carry a crate of who kow what was in the box.
Later that night...
"Gahhhhhh! This is kidnapping!" Law shouted to the top of his lungs, wiggling trying to break himself free.
"Shudd it!" Ace sweared before looking over at the other boy, "I can't think straight."
Corazon continued to look out towards the sea, ignoring both the younger pirates. It didn't take long for both boys to go to sleep.
"Budda, Budda, Budda. Kachank!"
Ace's left eye crept open as he heard the familiar sound of a transponder snail, "Doffy?" He whispered to himself . . . No? This person wasn't Doffy.
Law startled the other boy, "Is that Doffy?! Save me, please!" However, the boy quickly noticed the same thing.
"Kachank!"
"Oi, are you some Navy Spy or something?" Ace asked his nose scrunched and eyebrows furrowed.
Before Corazon could answer, Law added on, "I hate Navy soldiers or anyone associated with them."
"I'm not a part of the marines." Corazon silenced them, before continuing, "Law we're gonna find you a cure and Ace you're along for the ride."
"Where are we going~?" Ace found himself asking, as he swung from Corazon's arms.
"The hospital."
"Ehhh?!" Law began squirming in the older man's arm, "I don't wanna go to the hospital!"
Corazon shook him, before looking him in the face. "Stop acting like a predictable kid. You don't hear Ace complaining."
Ace kept silent, if he were to speak now, they'd know. They'd know right away.
"You're allowed to bring both boys up." The lady at the front smiled innocently at the two boys, but however fretted when she met with only glares directed back.
"Wh- White Lead Disease?! Where are you from?" The hideous monkey man and she he asked Law.
Law hesitated before answering, "Fl- Flevance." The word came out quietly, but was somehow heard by everyone in the room.
The two began acting wildly causing Law to run out of the room. This had somehow got on Ace's nerves, he almost had forgotten how much he hated people, but with this, his hatred had been vitalized once more.
"Do I have permission?" Ace longingly gazed up towards the older man.
Corazon looked down questioningly, with hints of anger edging his eyes, "To do what?"
"To set this shit aflame." Ace stared blankly into the doctor's eyes while stating it.
"Hold on." Corazon marched angrily towards the old man and his knuckles met the man's face with a satisfying crack. "Sure, you can."
"Thanks." Ace released his flames, careful not to burn any of the residents and just the building.
The cycle repeated every week, Law would get ostracized, Ace would get frustrated, Corazon would get angry, Ace would burn the place from head to toe, and Corazon would beat the doctor's face in.
Ace rested his back against the tree before sighing, "This is getting out of hand." He tiredly stated as he massaged his forehead. 'Maybe I should escape now?'
He nodded to himself before slowly creeping up, however, his plans came to a halt as he hear would could be described as . . . sniffling? He turned towards the sound to find Corazon crying over Law.
Ace stared fondly at them as his gaze began to soften and became less distant. 'Maybe this wasn't so bad? It's not like they were doing anything wrong. Maybe I can stay.'
"Oi, Law wake up." Ace shook law gently, "Wake up!" He gave a final shove.
The sleeping boy slowly opened his eyes, "What? What's going on?" He sat up before backing away from Ace.
"I'm sorry for the way I've been acting." He stated, silently thanking Makino for some for the manners lessons he received. "I was unnecessarily mean, let's make up." Ace extended his hand.
Law stared at it for a minute before looking the black haired boy in the face, "Ok." He reached for the hand and shook it on contact.
"Now let's make breakfast." Ace smirked, as the other boy nodded.
"Cora- san! Cora-san, wake up!"
"Eh?" Corazon slowly sat up, looking around warily and pointed to himself. "Co-ra-san? Me?" Both boys nodded their heads, "ME? What? Say it again!"
"Ugh, no way! Stop being weird!" Ace looked away bashly before focusing on finishing up the fruits.
"It's time for breakfast." Law smiled down, before putting the ladle he was holding on the ground. "Hurry up!"
Corazon beamed, "Ok!"
Hours flew by.
Day went by.
Weeks crept by.
Months walked by.
It had been 6 months since Corazon took Law and Ace. 6 months for them to deepen their bond with one another. 6 months for Ace to stop hating on Law and thinking that Corazon was a creep. 6 months for Law to get closer to Ace and trust Corazon. 6 months for Corazon to fall in love with the both of them.
"Budda, Budda, Budda."
Ace's head popped up, "Can I get it?"
Corazon reached for the phone before the boy could formulate any plan, however, once he picked it up, it was the voice they least expected to hear.
"Corazon, it's me Doffy." Both Law and Corazon expressions dropped at the tone of his voice, Ace on the other hand was mighty pleased to hear one of the people he most admired.
"Hey, Doffy!" Ace perked up, basically shouting in the poor transponder snail's face. "What ya up to?"
The expression of the transponder snail changed from one of strained aggression to actual relief. " . . .. Ace, is that you?" The transponder snail coughed out.
"Mm!" The young boy nodded eagerly.
A sound of large inhalation and exhalation could be heard, "It's been so long . . . Is Corazon there?"
Ace found himself peeping out of the corner of his eye before noticing the nod from Corazon, "Yep! He's here."
The transponder snail's face fell blank, "It's been 6 months, Corazon. You haven't found a cure yet for Law?"
The man hesitated before timidly tapping his fingers on the transponder snail.
"I see. Well we might be able to save him."
Both Ace and Law's eyes shot open, what had they just heard? He may be able to save Law? "What?!" Both hysterically sang together at a frightening frequency.
Doffy chuckled, "The Op-Op fruit, we found it. I want the person I most trust to eat it . . . I want you to eat it brother."
Ace glanced at Law, whose eyes were trained on Corazon waiting for the man's response. Whatever he was expecting, Ace guessed it wasn't part of his calculations, as he jumped at the excited expression that appeared on Corazon's face.
He tapped on the snail.
"Make sure to bring Ace back as well, I still don't understand why you decided to bring him along." The snail features rinsed with tiredness, as it continued to gaze ahead into the path in front of it.
Corazon happy expression dropped, before he clicked his finger on the wood of the snail.
"Kachank!"
"Did you guys hear that!?" Corazon grabbed the two boys in his arm and began to frantically thrust them around.
"You're gonna die", Law looked dryly to the older man. "A person can't consume more than two devil fruits, you should know this."
"Heheh . . . Hehehehe!" Corazon's stomach heaved, "Not me Law, you're going to eat it!"
Ace's eyebrows raised, as his eyes shifted towards the other young boy. "Law?"
"Mm." The man nodded, before looking at both boys, "So i'll ask again: do you know what this means you two?"
Both boys met him with a grin.
"I get to see Doffy again!"
"I'll have a devil fruit!"
The older man realized it then. He wasn't dumb he was subconsciously aware of it. He understood that they weren't like normal boys, but their lack of excitement about Law being able to live, was well . . . just a bit disturbing. The boys were focused on side aspirations and hadn't quite understood the importance of all this.
"Boys-"
"Budda Budda." Corazon glanced at the phone before scrambling to pick it up. "Kachank!"
"Ros-"
"I found a way to cure Law!" Corazon's voice severed any communication coming from the other side. "We found it. I did it."
The edges of Ace lips slightly cracked up as he listened to the conversation. Through the whole trip neither him nor Law could figure out -for the love of god- who the other man was. But that didn't stop Ace from feeling the warmth of the situation unraveling before him.
"Kachank!" Corazon slammed the microphone on the poor, unsuspecting transponder snail's back. "Alright boys, let's move out!" He eagerly scooped both boys up, cradling them while skipping in circles.
"Put me down!" Ace yelled before stealing a glance towards Law, the latter didn't look too well. "Cora-san, Law doesn't look too well." As he finished his sentence, the boy in speaking eye's slowly closed. "Eh?" Ace's jaw clenched before heat flooded up his neck, "Law!"
Corazon immediately stopped his celebratory movements as he sensed the worry and confusion in the younger child's voice, "L-Law?" He stole a glance at him before nearly biting on his tongue, "Law!"
Author noteee: Yes that's all for this chapter sorry for it being so short ;( but I didn't want to put too much into it. Please like, follow, and take the time to leave a REVIEW