Wishfull-star: (*^‿^*)
My dudes, I just finished an ASL fic au and everyone is gonna hate me for it. Soooo much major character death, can't wait to post it! Anyways, enjoy~
Luffy sat in his chair, kind of bored, but behaving well. Smoothie looked pretty in her dress, and her hair was done up. But despite this being her wedding day, she rarely smiled. When Luffy quietly asked why Smoothie looked sad, his father said, "She's just worried something will go wrong, but she's happy about being married." Luffy hoped she smiled soon, and sat in the white chair, one of the twenty people attending. Sanji was sitting next to Luffy, his gloves a pretty ivory color to look nice. Not his usually rough, fire proof gloves.
When the ceremony was over, Luffy wasted no time going to the buffet table, and eating as much food as he could until Sanji hurried over and told him to stop stealing the food. But there was a ton of food! More than enough for 20 people to have a comfortable amount. "Still! You look obnoxious."
"Obnoxious?" Luffy asked, cocking his head. His neck stretched and his head fell on the ground. Luffy laughed, and it was snapped back in place, making him fall on his butt, but luckily not into the table. Smoothie walked over and asked for Luffy to let the other guests have food. He pouted, but did as she asked, and didn't eat anymore. Even though he'd eaten most of the served meat.
Katakuri suggested he go and wash his hands, as they smelled like meat now. Though Luffy wasn't bothered, the smell of meat was always welcome! But he did as he was told, and zipped to the bathroom to wash his hands. The wedding was in a small venue, a pretty room with big windows to the outside and a large sliding glass door to let fresh air in.
It was clear that Smoothie's new husband's mom didn't like Luffy being there. He didn't bring any blood, even if Smoothie wouldn't care. But Luffy was trying his best to be a good boy. Katakuri was irritated with the glares, but didn't want to cause a scene, so he distracted Luffy, even if he wasn't overly bothered.
It was near the end of the reception, the adults drinking smelly wine, when Luffy felt a lance of pain go through him. It was a familiar feeling. Zoro had shifted! Luffy ran to his father and begged to have his phone to call Zoro. Sanji was there, seeming worried, too. Katakuri gave his phone, and before he could ask what was wrong, Luffy was on the phone, calling Zoro's dad.
He didn't pick up at first, so Luffy kept calling for the next five minutes until he did. "Luffy, he's doing okay."
"What happened?!" Luffy exclaimed, standing outside, though still in view of the others inside. Koushiro explained that someone broke into the property and Zoro shifted when he broke the door down. Luffy's eyes widened when he was told Zoro bit the guy. "Oh no!"
"Don't worry, he didn't change. It's not the full moon, so the bite isn't contagious," he assured Luffy. Zoro was in his room, sleeping it off. It hurt a lot, but he acted on instinct. Luffy was shocked, and wondered if Zoro was glad he finally was able to turn into wolf form not only on a full moon.
Luffy had the call on speakerphone so Sanji could hear, too. "Is he okay?"
"I don't know. He fell asleep instantly when the man was out of commission. He is okay, he just has a very nasty bite mark. He's been taken away by police." Luffy worried over Zoro, a lot. But Koushirou promised to have Zoro call when he felt better and was awake. He had to go, wanting to watch over Zoro for now to make sure he was alright.
The call was over, and Luffy had tears in his eyes, and wiped them. "Are you okay?" Sanji asked quietly. Katakuri was inside, listening at the door that was open wide. Luffy nodded, and then went to hug his dad for comfort. Sanji looked sad, left out. He walked up to Luffy, and asked if he'd ever explain the bond.
It had been nearly a year since they met, and he still didn't know. Luffy was unsure of whether they'd tell him, ever. It now felt like something private, that he and Zoro never shared with others anymore. He said he wasn't sure. "I won't judge or anything. Just… we're friends, and I'm sad I still don't know."
Luffy frowned, and said, "I'll ask Zoro about it. Cause it's both of our secret, not just mine." Sanji nodded, saying that's all he asked for. The wedding was stressful for Luffy from then on, and he just wanted to go home or go check on Zoro. They ended up leaving a bit early, but Smoothie had no problem, as all the other siblings were there. Those that hadn't met Sanji yet were glad to meet Luffy's second friend. His second good friend.
Coby didn't count, and Luffy hadn't heard from him since his break up. To be honest, he sometimes couldn't remember their times together, and papa told him it was natural that little kids couldn't remember their years. Luffy didn't like that, but papa said there was nothing he could do but write down what happened. Of course he couldn't write, so Katauri wrote down what he said of his memories. He cleaned up the grammar a bit, but they were still mostly Luffy's recollections.
When they got home, Zoro was awake, and not in pain, so he called them. He felt a bit nauseous, but not too bad. "It felt like I couldn't control my own body or even my thoughts. I got scared, and then the next thing I knew, I'm biting some random burglar. I'm glad he didn't turn or things woulda' gotten messier."
Luffy had a feeling he knew what Zoro felt like. Being unable to control himself, and risking harming others. He'd been there when Luffy lost control, and spoke Luffy's thoughts, saying, "I guess I know how you feel when you lose control," in a sad voice.
"Yeah… it's not fun at all," Luffy mumbled. Sanji looked sad, though he couldn't be wishing he could understand what that felt like when both of them expressed how awful it was. Zoro wasn't coming over because he still felt sick, so both boys were going to his house.
When they got there, Luffy hurried to his room and hugged him tightly. "I'm okay. Kind of sore, but nothing terrible," he assured his best friend and bond partner. Sanji asked if any charges were being pressed. "No, he broke in and they said I acted in self-defense. But they gave me a concerned look. Like I'd attack them even though I was sick on the couch…" He sounded sad and frustrated.
He said, "I'm sorry you hurt, too." Sounded guilty, and Luffy said he wasn't mad, and it didn't last as long as full moons did. "I guess…"
Sanji was quiet for a moment before he asked, "Will you both tell me how you share emotions and pain? I- I know you guys are more best friends and all, but I want to at least know why it happens." He sounded hesitant and careful, not wanting to upset them. When he'd asked in the past, Zoro snapped that it was none of his business, though that happened awhile ago.
The two non-humans shared a look, and agreed. It was time to tell him. So Luffy explained their relationship and how it started. They also said Luffy still drank from him in private because it wasn't a big deal anymore. Sanji was surprised but didn't seem bothered by the fact Luffy fed off their friend. "Oh… okay," was his simple answer. "It doesn't hurt?"
"My body messes up every month. A small prick that heals over instantly wouldn't hurt me." Zoro sounded a bit annoyed at the thought that it did hurt him. It didn't, and he even said the feeling was kind of calming in a way. He was never able to explain it. He hadn't told Katakuri because the boy felt it was embarrassing. So it was a well kept secret from everyone.
They spent the night at Zoro's, Luffy clingy to him a bit. It didn't bother him, and Luffy was holding his hand all through the movie they watched in the crowded living room. Their couch was very comfortable, though, and the TV was big in the cramped space.
When bed time came, Luffy slept on Zoro's bed with him while Sanji was on the floor in a futon. "I'm okay, you don't need to worry so much," Zoro said quietly when they both heard Sanji snoring. Luffy looked down, and said he knew what it felt like to lose control and hadn't ever wanted it to happen to Zoro. "It was gonna happen eventually."
"Still… Zoro shouldn't hurt other than the full moon."
"Nothing you can do about it. Nothing I can do about what happened. I'm just upset it hurt you, too. What if every time I shift, if I learn how to, you are hurt? I don't want that." Luffy had no answer. But he did want Zoro to not be constrained by the worry over Luffy feeling pain. Sure, he didn't want to hurt, but he really was afraid that Zoro would think he was bogging him down.
They eventually fell asleep, and some time during the night, Luffy's head stretched off the bed and his face rested on the floor while his body was still on the bed. When Sanji woke up, he screamed about it, and it snapped back into place when his eyes opened wide in surprise and startle.
"Oi! Shut up," Zoro said in irritation, and Sanji apologized. Luffy started laughing, and Zoro groaned in annoyance, still tired. "Be quiet and go back to bed, it's not time to wake up," he snapped. But he easily fell back asleep, and so did Sanji. But Luffy didn't, and left the room to get some drinks of blood, but not the whole bottle.
He hoped Zoro didn't lose control again anytime soon, and kept practicing to better himself and get his transformations to be how he wanted them to be. The pain wasn't that bad, really. It was sharp and sudden, and he didn't like it, but he wasn't too hurt, and it didn't last after Zoro had fully shifted during the full moon. He was still in the large pen with high walls during transformations. Lots of room to run around and snarl at everything.
During the peak of the full moon, Koushirou always had every light turned off in the home, and kept things as quiet as possible. In Zoro's frenzied werewolf form, he would attack anything that moved. He wouldn't discriminate against his father, not remembering him when he was not in his human body.
But nobody had ever been attacked during a full moon. If he did bite someone during a full moon, they would be infected too, unlike with Luffy, who couldn't infect others by a bite. He waited in the living room, working on a puzzle as he was unable to fall back asleep, and the father was already up and awake, working in his little office.
-x-
Karina was missing. She wasn't an outdoor cat, but she got out somehow, and was missing. Katakuri hadn't wanted to tell Luffy, but he had to. The boy was devastated, but his father assured him this didn't mean she was gone for good. Their property was large, and she could be in the yard.
They searched the grounds for hours, just to make sure she wasn't hiding in any bushes. But she wasn't there. So they went around the neighborhood and put up missing posters. Katakuri had had her for over a decade, and was very upset about this. But he had to hide that for Luffy's sake.
When they searched the neighborhood for hours, going door to door and asking their not so close neighbors if they'd seen her, they all said no. However, when they asked the elderly man that lived near the edge of the long cul de sac, Luffy didn't believe the man's words. He swore that he smelled Karina inside. But the man insisted she wasn't there.
Luffy grew very angry at his lies, and for the first time ever, went off on someone, yelling at them angrily. Katakuri was shocked, but when the old man was shocked and grew fearful at the furious vampire boy, he hurried inside and then returned Karina. She had a collar on, so he knew who she belonged to.
Katakuri contemplated pressing charges on his for animal theft and the lies he gave about her not being there, but he'd rather just wash their hands clean of this incident, and be much more careful, even if this had never happened before. The girl was old, and had started to show the signs related to a senior cat, so perhaps she got confused and headed outside.
Luffy pouted, arms crossed much of the day when he wasn't glued to Karina, following her everywhere, picking her up and walking around the house with her. She hated being picked up unless the holder was moving in some way, even if it was rocking back and forth. Katakuri was still surprised by Luffy's anger, but it was only natural, really. Karina was his friend, and she had been stolen away, and they were lied to right to their faces.
It was thanks to his senses that they got their beloved pet back. So, he was cranky, but was finally back to being happy when Katakuri thoroughly praised and thanked him for his help. "Even I was helpless of finding her. You saved the day, Luffy. I'm proud of you. And I can see why you're angry. I am, too."
"You don't look angry."
"I'm the papa, I have to stay strong."
"You feel bad things sometimes?"
"Of course. I feel sad and worried just like anyone else." Luffy hugged him, saying papa shouldn't be sad or worried. "I can't help it. It's a parent's job to worry about their child."
"But I'm strong!"
"You're still a child, so I must be vigilant and take good care of you. I will always be concerned over your safety and happiness, even when I turn old and you're a very big boy. When you're an adult, I'll still worry." Luffy smiled, and said he was sorry to worry him. "I'm not angry. It's natural to worry. Just like you worry about your friends and family, so do I." Luffy cheered up at this, and Katakuri was glad to see the anger gone.
"Shishishi, sorry I was a grumpy grump."
"That's just fine," he said as he made Luffy a strawberry pudding for a reward of finding Karina again.
-x-
"Papa, I don't like that man," Luffy said quietly to Katakuri in the little coffee shop they were in. He was sitting close to him. The boy just turned seven years old, and so they were getting him a real treat. His favorite chocolate drink ever from the coffee shop that was fairly close to their home. A few streets over. They'd walked there to get some exercise.
Katakuri looked over and Luffy pointed at the man he was talking about discretely. The man did look a bit creepy, and kept staring at Luffy. Katakuri frowned, and said they could leave now if he wanted. "Yeah."
They left, Luffy taking his yummy hot chocolate with caramel and salt on it. It was so delicious! But the creepy man was ruining it! So he was happy to leave. The man stood when they walked past, and stopped them. "Give me my son back."
"Excuse me?" Katakuri asked, confused and shocked. Luffy felt the same.
"You've stolen my son!"
"I have not. I don't know who you are, but leave us alone." To be safe, Katakuri picked Luffy up and held the short seven year old. He didn't hold Luffy anymore, but this was an awkward and very uncomfortable moment. Katakuri left, but kept his eye on the man. Luffy was uneasy, but kept his senses open.
When they turned the corner, Luffy said the guy was following them. Luffy's family had died, and that's why he was put up for adoption, so that man couldn't possibly be Luffy's biological father. He was crazy. So, Katakuri went into a supermarket, and they headed deep inside to try and lose him before Katakuri called the police, feeling uneasy about the situation.
Luffy said the man had followed them inside, and he was scared now. But the police said a hero would be sent their way. They waited in the store, and when the hero walked in, he made a beeline to where the two were, having told the police they were in the back of the supermarket. The hero walked over, and was a man with red hair and scars over his eye.
"Are you Katakuri and Luffy?"
"Yes."
"I heard you were being stalked?" They nodded. "Can you point out the stalker?" Luffy nodded, and lead him to where he could smell the creepy man. He pointed right at him, and the man booked it as fast as he could. The hero walked out and looked at the man as he left, and suddenly he passed out. Wow! What a cool quirk! To make people fall asleep.
The hero walked to the man, with the father and son watching from afar beside the entrance to the store. "Who is he, papa?"
"That's Red Hair Shanks. He's a very popular hero, nowadays," Katakuri said honestly. The man got a zip tie from his belt, and tied the offender's wrists together. Luffy heard him call police over, and a cop car was there very quickly. Luffy wondered if the man was going to jail. "Well, that depends on his situation. But following and being threatening towards children is a severe offense. So he will get in trouble, but not necessarily jail time."
"Who was he?"
"I have no idea," the father replied. Luffy didn't like him. He smelled bad and looked creepy. Shanks walked back over with a smile.
"Well, there you go. If you'd like, we could send an escort with you, or have you picked up and brought home." They opted to walk back home. Too bad Luffy's happy drink was soured by the creepy man. Luffy didn't like him at all. It really bothered him. His only father was his papa. Why did that man say such a lie? He hated that, and never wanted to see him again.
-x-
"Zoro, it's okay," Luffy said to his friend, who was in wolf form in the backyard, looking frenzied. But Luffy felt fear from him. He was scared. He'd been practicing changing forms on will since he knew it was possible to shift on a not full moon. Luffy had spent the night and they were in the backyard playing in the pool when Zoro suddenly turned into wolf form.
When Luffy walked towards him, Zoro growled threateningly. But Luffy kept going, and when Zoro lunged at him, Luffy moved to the side and then latched onto him by stretching his arms out and grabbing onto him. He was the size of a small wolf, not nearly the big size he'd be when he was older.
The boy thrashed around, but Luffy was clamped to his back, and rubbed circles on his forehead. "Zoro's my friend, so he won't hurt me. He's just confused right now. But it's okay, I won't tell anyone," Luffy soothed. Zoro slowed his thrashing and then fell onto his stomach, painting before he changed back.
When he was back in human form, he started to sob, hiding his face in his hands. Luffy got his clothes for him since they'd fallen off with his transformation. Luffy sat next to him, and Zoro dressed, looking ashamed. "I'm sorry," Zoro muttered, not able to look at Luffy.
"S'okay. Nobody got hurt," Luffy said nicely, voice light. Poor Zoro. Luffy of course knew what it felt like to lose control. But it was just lucky Luffy was fast and wasn't attacked. The green haired boy said he didn't want to go to school anymore. "But there's only two weeks left. You can make it, and then have summer to practice."
"I attacked you. I may not have landed a hit, but any normal human could have been really hurt!" Luffy frowned, knowing he was right. Well, the school would be understanding, as students had to take breaks throughout the year, their quirks disrupting school life. They weren't given failing grades on what they missed out on, and were not shamed for being absent for weeks at a time. Luffy said he would bring Zoro all his homework, and Zoro cried a bit more. His friend was so upset, and the vampire felt his emotional pain. The shame and fear of things going wrong.
Luffy had not lost control in a long time. He still had people smell delicious, but he didn't act out on it, and never showed any sign of the feelings. The fangs no longer extended when thirsty or smelling something yummy, which was great. Luffy hugged Zoro, who hugged him back. "Don't worry, I'll be your friend no matter what happens," Luffy vowed. Zoro nodded, sniffling, but gave a smile.
-x-
Luffy pouted in his play room, working on homework on his little table. It was the last day of school, and he missed it! Papa was sick, and couldn't go to the store to buy more sunblock, which they were out of. It wasn't safe for him to leave the house if he wasn't drenched in sunblock. It was a Friday, and nobody was able to drive him to school because they had work.
Zoro didn't make it either, so Sanji was alone today. The boy was cranky that he missed it, and cranky that he depended on sunblock so heavily. He knew papa felt guilty for running out and not being able to go out and buy some more.
After a bit of pouting and calming down, he left the play room, heading downstairs and to his father's big bedroom. He pushed the slightly ajar door open and saw he was sitting up, the trash can next to him. He had a stomach bug and kept throwing up. Luffy tried to help him, but he couldn't cook and wasn't allowed to handle the medication in the bathroom.
So he tried his best and brought him crackers that he snacked on. They were having leftovers from last night so Katakuri didn't need to cook. He was wearing a face mask so he didn't risk spreading it to Luffy, who had never been sick from a human illness. He had blood poisoning once, but that was it. When the blood was very expired and hadn't said so.
It hadn't gotten him too ill since he threw it back up right after swallowing. Luffy brought him another bag of crackers, but saw he hadn't finished the first. "Are you feeling better?" he asked from the door. There was a bottle of water next to him, laying in bed. The TV in his room was on, but it was white noise in the background mostly. The man wasn't paying attention to it.
"Not really. I'll be okay, though. A few people at work called in sick, so I assume the food was bad somehow, and that's why we all got sick at the same time." Luffy asked about the doctor. "I have medicine for it. If I'm not better by morning, I'll head into the doctors then. I'm so sorry. You missed the last day of school because I got sick."
"Papa has missed lots of work for me! I'm not angry. A little sad, but Zoro couldn't make it either," Luffy pointed out. He saw his father's face show a smile, even if the mask covered his mouth. "I just hope you get better soon."
"Me, too."
