This is the first fic I've actually started publishing. I don't have a frequent uploading schedule, I basically upload whenever I feel like writing a chapter. I wrote three chapters so far, all of which are already on Ao3. The fourth is in the works currently. Again, I upload whenever I have the urge to. So I cannot promise a frequent schedule. Well, onto the story I suppose.
Life's always been seemingly normal for the three brothers. Well, besides their careers, then yeah. Everything's normal. For the most part at least.
What are their careers? On the front they all seem like normal high schoolers, but oh, how people are wrong. They are far from it. First of all, Ace is a part of the notorious gang called the Spades. Also nicknamed the Spade Pirates because of how ravage and crazy they can act.
Ace himself has gained a big name in the underworld. He's known as Fire Fist.
Sabo is a lone wolf. Blue Gentleman is what they've been calling him. He has an information network that people can only gawk at as if it's the god itself. But, aside from that, he's known to always finish his jobs. He has never once had a job uncompleted, but the way he deals with the tasks are a bit extreme, as others call it.
When he interrogates people, he will do whatever is needed for his answers. Murder, torture, blackmail, you name it. You can come up with as many crazy conclusions as you like, but he's probably already done them.
And Luffy. He's all sun and smiles on the outside, but you get on his bad side? You're as good as dead. No matter where you go, he will chase you down until you've been dealt with. His alias is Strawhat Luffy.
Of course, named after his straw hat. Courtesy of Shanks. Luffy has a crew of 10 including himself. Most of them have decent lives outside of their gang life. Zoro is a kendo master, Nami is a gambling goddess, Usopp is a weaponry holder, Sanji is a cook at the Baratie, Robin is a researcher, Franky owns a repair shop, Brooks a street musician, and Jinbe works at the Aquarium.
All of them enjoy their lives outside of gang work, but without the gang they wouldn't be themselves. They might be called a gang, but they are really just shielding their loved ones from the horrible thing called the government.
The government has founded something, something that changes everything.
Devil Fruits.
A Devil Fruit is a specimen that grants you inhuman powers or attributes. Along with that they have the substance named Seastone. It's shape can be converted into liquid and solids, the effect it gives fully drains a devil fruit user of its powers, thus making them vulnerable.
The government has many devil fruit users, not only that but they have other specimens as well. Such as harpy-like creatures, minks, which are bred humans and animals, and fishmen. As it's said, is what it describes. Fishmen are people with fish attributes, therefore gaining the ability to swim at an acceptable speed and live on land. Some fishmen are in gangs, some work for the government, some just live their life.
Not everyone wants to oblige themselves to the government. Frankly, if you do, you're kinda wack. But anyhow, let's move on.
Ace, Luffy, and Sabo all obtained devil fruits. Ace has the Mera Mera Nomi, thus becoming fire itself. Hence his nickname, Fire Fist Ace. Sabo has the Tatsu Tatsu Nomi. He can turn into a dragon or he can bring out parts of his dragon, becoming a hybrid form.
Luffy has the Gomu Gomu Nomi. His body is now made of rubber, which makes him safe from dull objects like bullets or hammers. Unless of course, those hammers or bullets happen to have haki or seastone coding it. Otherwise, he's fine.
"Sabooooo~" Luffy called, walking limply from his classroom. All three brothers aren't exactly fond of their academic studies, but Luffy tends to show it the most. "Lu, I already told you. No is no."
Sabo , already knowing what his dearest little brother is going to reply with, shoved his hand over Luffy's mouth, wanting to avoid this conversation at all costs. But he quickly takes it back, seeing as he then feels a slobbery lick to his palm. He looks to the culprit, now rocking on his toes with a grin that should be humanly impossible. Humanly impossible.
"But Sabo~ My birthday is coming up! You know what that means!"
Sabo sighs, he's had this conversation a million times in the last week, and Luffy has never won it. If he did, why would he still be asking?
"Yes I know Lu, you'll get some of your memories back. But we've already had this conversation. Even if you have enough money to get the rest back, you're not going to do that. Until I get all of mine, it's too dangerous for you. Who knows what happened back then?!"
"That's the whole point!" Luffy stated, with eyes shimmering as bright as the night sky. "We don't know when we were last living, getting our memories back would be so cool~!"
"Luffy. I'm gonna say this one more time. None of us are getting our memories back until I get mine. You're stubborn ass older brother agreed to this for crying out loud! Why can't you?!"
Luffy's whining only got worse from that point on.
"Ace is a party pooper! You already have more than half of your memory! So why can't i?!" Sabo looks around, realizing everyone in the hall has now turned their heads towards the pair at that comment.
Sabo doesn't like flaring his money where everyone can see it. He doesn't want to come off as petty like a spoiled brat. So, he kept his nobility a secret. But with memory caches being extremely expensive, having more than half of them back, and nonetheless only three years after he became 19, you gotta admit that's fishy.
Sabo sighs, grabs his brother's shirt, and pulls him away to an empty classroom. As they enter the emptied room, he shoves his brother in, as light as a shove can be. "Luffy. We are not talking about this anymore. Now go to your next class, and if I find out you're late to it, your meat is being suspended for a week."
Luffy gasped, horrified. "NO! You wouldn't DARE!"
...
"...Would you…?"
Sabo's piercing glare snaps Luffy out of his little dilemma placed in his head. Next thing you know, you see a short boy with a straw hat dangling from his back, speeding out of a vacant classroom, hurriedly chanting MEAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT as he runs to his class. Sabo stifles a laugh, "Same as always, huh Luffy?" His joy is soon gone though, with the appearing aura of his counterpart.
That's only gonna last so long, Sabo. What happens when he finds out?
"Oh quiet you, I don't care what you may think, I will do whatever is needed so that he doesn't have to remember."
Tch, you have such a brother complex.
"Oh? Really now? You're as bad as I am, Fafnir. You care just as much for him as I do."
At least I hid it better. I'm not all giddy whenever I see him.
"Really? So that wasn't you, but an alter ego who hugged my little brother fiercely when his form came out?"
...Deal with your own damn problems for all I care. Jackass.
Sabo scoffs, "Firebreath"
...
Sabo couldn't help but think that Fafnir might be right... Luffy being Luffy, how is gonna take it when he remembers? He might even- no. Stop there.
Sabo sighed, but then regained parts of his confidence.
"Alrighty then, 'bout time i headed over to class. Ms. Finnegan is mean enough, I don't need her giving me after school detention." Sabo shivers, detention did not go well last time.
"Why am I talking to myself?"
'Cause your dumb, Sabo
"That was a rhetorical question you dumb ass."
As he walks away to his class, there's a figure looming over him in the shadows. So, Sabo-ya. What is really gonna go down when he remembers? The figure thinks, as he soon walks away.
"Moving on, can anyone tell me what happened in—" That's all Ace heard before he zoned out. History isn't a class he was really fond of, he never saw any point in learning about history. Even if we learn about our mistakes doesn't mean people won't do them again Is what he thought as he leaned toward the window, and observed the class doing gym outside.
He noticed a certain straw hatted kid doing sprints, tying with a certain green haired kid as they ran. I forgot. This is Luffy's gym period huh? Wonder how he's fairing. All doubtful thoughts went away as he saw Luffy pass the finish line. He was so eager to just stand up and yell WOOO BITCH THAT'S MY LITTLE BROTHER RIGHT THEREEE!
But, decided that he won't, so that he can keep that little bit of dignity he had left. But then Luffy suddenly collapsed outside, his classmates all ran to him to see what was wrong. Shit! And before you know it, Ace jumped out of a three story window, along with his dignity, all to go check on his brother. "Portgas would you like to answer the next questio—"
She continues to stare at the now empty seat.
Mrs. Kay just sighed as she put her chalk down. "I don't get paid enough to deal with this." She mumbled as she sat back down in her chair. Of course, all the kids agreed. No one can get paid enough to deal with Ace.
Is what they all thought, as they saw him jump out the window
"LUUUUUUUFFFFFYYYYYYYY—!" Thunk. Everyone just stared and gawked at the kid who just jumped from a three story window. Of course, Ace didn't care at all. All that mattered was finding out if his little brother was safe.
"LUFFY! Luffy, Luffy, LUFFY!" He constantly said that as he ran towards his brother. "Luffyareyoualright?Nothurtareyou?Needmedic?Nurse?Needhelpgettingup,ofcourseyoudo!I'llhelpyou—"
"Ace your ranting"
"—getup!Medic!Medic!Help!Mybrotherishurt—" His rant was stopped when his little brother got up.
"Aceeeeee! Your ranting is getting so bad you aren't even speaking proper sentenceeeeesss. Chilllll I'm finnnneeeee~! I just wasn't aware of my surroundings like I should've been. I lowered my guard, sorry."
Luffy huffed as Ace gave him that I don't believe you for a second look. Luffy went over to hug his brother. Ace pouted, "But you fell over...how am i not supposed to worry 'bout my lil bro?"
Luffy sighed, "S'fine. But Ace, you jumped from a window." Ace blinked.
"Yeah? What does that have anything to do with this?" Then all of a sudden Sabo appeared out of nowhere to help his dearest big brother with understanding why the fuck he shouldn'ta done that.
"Allow me to explain, Ace." Sabo said, as if he was there the whole time.
"HOLY FUCK DUDE—WHEN DID YOU—HOW—When did you get here?!"
Sabo chuckled, "My brother senses were tingling, so I decided to come where they pointed. Of course Luffy was at the middle of the commotion, but Ace. Really?" Sabo gave him a stern look that described Ace you fucking dumb shit how do you not know what we're talking about? "I don't understand, what did I do wrong?"
It was so dumb how baffled Ace was. Sabo sighed, "Ace, you jumped from a window." Ace still didn't understand.
"Yeah? What about it?"
Sabo walked closer to Ace, within a foot proximity. "Ace. It was a three story window, hon." And then it clicked.
"Ohhhhhhhhh. That's why you were freaking out." That made much more sense. "Oh—but i ain't hurt. So everything's fine."
Sabo then closed the gap between them, picked up Ace, and hung him over his shoulder, and started walking towards the nurses office. "My precious Geranium, to keep up our front you need to be checked at the very least." Ace whined at that.
"But Sabo! I've jumped higher before."
Ace was pouting, yet again. And with a light shade of pink illuminating on his skin nonetheless. "Azalea Ace, Azalea." Ace just huffed. "You're such a pain in the ass, Camellia."
"A pain in the ass you oh so love very much." Ace grew even redder at that statement.
Sabo snorted. "Seeing as you're growing a brighter shade of red now, i'll assume you meant a Red Camellia." Sabo got no answer besides a idiotic man-child turning a dark red, so he took that as a win. After a few minutes of back and forth flower language, they arrived.
"My delicate Calla Lily, we're here." Sabo said, as he stopped in front of the door.
"Would you like me to carry you in or will you get off my back?" Sabo shot Ace a questioning look, with a smirk plastered on his face. Ace mumbled something. "What, my beautiful White Carnation?" Ace's mumble got louder, but Sabo still couldn't hear him.
"My dear Hibiscus Rose, I need you to speak up." Sabo's taunting was making Ace flush a bright red.
"...Do what you want…" Was the faint reply Sabo heard.
"Alrighty then, we're going in the office now."
But, Kureha was already placed right in front of the door.
"So. What happened?"
As soon as Ace had been placed on a bed, Sabo plastered a fake smile on his face. "Well, Mrs. Kureha, nice as ever aren't you?"
"Now now Sabo, Kureha is cranky only because she hasn't gotten her coffee yet. Maybe next time bring a cup of coffee from the lounge?"
Ah. Hiluluk. How I love that he plays in my favor.
"Hm. I'll take that into consideration. But only because I fancy coffee as well, so it's helpful to grab a coffee if I'm actually allowed to this time. Y'know, instead of sneaking in there and grabbing one for myself."
"You little—"
And that's where Hiluluk decided to step in. "And Kureha would LOVE that! THANK YOU for your consideration, my dear friend Sabo."
Apparently Sabo's smile wasn't as convincing as he'd like, but nonetheless it got the job done. "Thank you, Mr. Hiluluk. You are very welc—"
And that sentence just had to be interrupted by none other than Ace.
"Ahem. Can I just get checked up?! Like—gOd you guys! I don't wanna listen to your supid crusade, i came here for a stupid check up. And once I get that I can go back to my classes, and then sleep in my classroom while the lesson happens."
"Of course. So, Portgas. Why're you here today?"
Sabo decided to answer instead. "He decided to jump out of a window. Again."
"Great. Well, this'll be a quick check-up since he's done this multiple times before. How high?"
"About three stories, it was from Mrs. Kay's classroom."
"Huh. I expected higher. Cause of jump?"
"Apparently Luffy fell while in gym, doing sprints, and Ace's brother complex kicked in."
"I see...wait. Isn't that practically the reason why he was here last time?!"
"Probably. Although last time I think it was either Deuce or Me that tripped."
"I see...well, Ace you're staying here until fourth period is over."
Ace sputtered at that. "Uh. What? You're not planning on like making me one of your lab rats are you? Test your experiments on me? 'Cause god i don't wanna do that again—"
"I don't want another visit from your goddamn teacher. Just sleep in these beds, Sabo will give a note to your teacher, and I get a better evening spent than having to be accused by your teachers for not giving you your medication okay?" Right, meds. Narcolepsy. Forgot 'bout that…
"Ah. Alrighty then, I'll um lay down then…"
As Ace layed down, Hiluluk silently thanked Kureha for actually handling this appropriately, instead of, you know. Using Ace as an actual Lab Rat.
＿＿＿＿＿
As Luffy was walking to the front gates he spotted a greenish blob in the crowd of students. "ZOOOOROOOOO-" And then as he got cut off, a orange haired girl appeared. "LUFFY! You need to NOT yell and run everytime you see one of us!"
"Whhyyyy?"
"One, because it's embarrassing! Two, our eardrums can only handle so much!"
"But my friends are awesome! Why should it matter what other people think?"
Luffy's big, brown, and questioning eyes looked so adorable Nami couldn't bring herself to retort to the fact he ignored her second reason. But, after a seemingly long time of Luffy's staring and Nami's consulting in her head, she spoke up.
"Luffy, it indeed doesn't matter what people think of us, but with the little amount of dignity we have left, can you try not to do that?"
Luffy started pouting. Adorable, they all thought. "Fineeeee… doesn't mean i'll like it though.."
Nami sighed, all the strawhats shared a look of This is as best as we're gonna get. "Thank you, Luffy." Just as Luffy was going to reply, he felt pressure in his back.
In the blink of an eye, there was blood everywhere. Luffy didn't realize he was hurt until it was too late, he stumbled while trying to hold his weight.
"Aw crap…Seastone…"
Then Luffy fell.
The Strawhats don't usually get attacked at school since their gang's identities are confidential intel. But now when they looked at Luffy, lying on the ground, bleeding out, all they could see was red. Pure red.
"LUFFY!"
＿＿＿＿＿
As Luffy's sight disappeared, he could see a shadowed mist leaving the area. But he didn't care, all that mattered to him was trying to stay awake.
But, alas, he gave in to the comforting darkness.
Flower Meanings
Geranium= Stupidity
Red Camellia= Flame in my Heart
Azalea= Take care of yourself for Me
Calla Lily= Beauty
White Carnation= Innocent, Sweet and Lovely
Hibiscus Rose= Delicate Beauty
I'll probably have the next two chapters up in a jiffy.
...
Probably.