Hi, there~
Here is the next chapter of 'A different journey'.
But before I go into a ramble, I forget to say congratulation to the Guest who reviewed the second chapter (third chapter if you count prologue as one) on the 4th July. One of your guesses is right. Chouchou is joining them.
To be true, he wasn't in my original plan but when I got to work on the Orange Town part, I reread the part a bit and to be true, I love how much Chouchou somehow resembles Luffy by protecting his treasure and in the end thanking them by letting them go by easily. If Luffy had been the dog, I feel he would act the same.
For the other part of the guess, you have to wait a bit. I think the answer will come in eight chapter (the ninth chapter if you count prologue as one). No spoilers at the moment ;)
So before I go into the review respond-section(this section is only on FF dot net), if there is anything that sounds strange or you're unsure about if you understand it right, just ask me. I try to respond to you as quick as possible if it does help. But if the answer will contain spoilers, I won't answer directly. But don't worry I will get back to your question if it isn't a spoiler any longer.
And now on to the chapter~
SinOfTheFox: I already answered you via PM. But I thought it could be helpful for others to write it again. At the moment, Law is the captain. Because they promised Garp to stay low and they agreed that Law is the responsible one so he is fully in charge. But Luffy becomes the captain when they finally become pirates. Something they aren't, yet. And Law taking on Nami's position to boss them around? The idea seems fun. I mean he does already hit Luffy and Ace. But let's see how it evolves during the story.^^
yukino76: I'm guessing there was a little typo and it meant 'teach' instead of 'reach'. Law being a teacher for Haki? I can image it. But if he does it, the question will be answered sometime during the story. But not now.
buterflypuss: Thank you for your review. I like your profile picture (I have that as my desktop screen on my laptop*-*).
~Chapter 5 – Agreement and Learning~
Law sighed and looked up from his papers regarding Ace's medical information. The black-haired logia user was getting more and more annoying.
Ace seemed to become slightly aggressive when his decisions were questioned. Something which only happened when the decision involved Luffy's safety and that wasn't the case in these situations when the logia user turned himself on fire.
Law narrowed his eyes. It couldn't be, right? So-called Latebloomers regarding the second gender were rare and even if they hadn't been so rare, just from the medical information, Law would have said the chances of Ace presenting during the last year of the presenting phase were even lower than them finding something or someone Luffy would treasure more or as much as his hat and them.
The surgeon pinched the bridge of his nose. But… that Ace was going through the second gender presentation stage was the only reasonable explanation for his behaviour. It would also combine with the way the grey eyes seemed to sadden when Luffy became the target of the twenty-year-old one's aggressive side.
So what could he do? Ace being like that wasn't helpful for their journey. It wouldn't be long until the bad mood affected Luffy as well. This would be the worst that could happen.
"Torao, tell the meanie to stop being so stingy. He wanted to lock my straw hat away", Luffy whined. Law looked at the younger one who had his precious straw hat in a death grip. The surgeon thought for a moment before he stood up.
He had to act fast if it had come already that far. The best way to deal with Ace was probably to get the others off the ship. Then the others couldn't interrupt.
"Ne, Luffy, why don't you take Zoro, Bepo and Chouchou with you to explore the island. There shouldn't be any people only animals. Maybe you could camp for three days out there", Law suggested.
"And the meanie?" "Don't worry, I'll deal with him. Just enjoy your island adventure. But don't go overboard with your freedom. Just in case people are showing up", Law warned. He could hear a whine from his little step-brother/cousin. So he understood. But even if Luffy was whiny, Law suddenly felt arms around him.
"See you, Torao. Be careful with your heat."
He starred after the younger one in shocked who was now shouting for Zoro and Bepo.
How did Luffy know that he was close to his heat? Sure, he had taken some light suppressants which hide his scent but they didn't stop his heat like the other suppressants he took but these were only for when they came into rough areas. Rough areas in which he didn't want to go into heat.
But back to the real topic concerning him at the moment. Luffy shouldn't be able to know that he was close to his heat.
A groan left him. He should better hurry and decided how to deal with Ace. Otherwise, his heat started and he hadn't done anything.
Law looked at his notes again.
He had two options.
The first was simple, he would mate with Ace until the other one would find his true mate. Law was conflicted about this solution. He knew that Ace would be troubled about that if the other found someone else. Because Ace wasn't one to leave a person he cared about for someone else. So maybe he should go for his second option.
This would be a little more complicated in general but would have fewer effects on the relationship on the ship and future relationships. Really strong suppressants. It would be kinda rare for an Alpha to take that strong suppressant. But well if it was needed. The only problem there was how the suppressant would react with Ace's normal medicine against his narcolepsy.
So maybe the second option wasn't exactly better. The surgeon sighed. He should have a talk with Ace about this. Probably as soon as possible.
Law left the medical room and went to their room in which the logia user was at the moment. Ace laid flat on a futon with his face in the pillow. Looked like he had a fit because of his disagreement with Luffy. Whatever this had been about.
The surgeon leant himself against the door frame and waited. But since the other didn't show any signs to react towards him, he decided to start talking: "I allowed Luffy to take Zoro, Bepo and Chouchou of the ship to explore the island. They will probably also camp there which means you have some days to get over your trouble with your Alpha instincts." Law's eyes rested on Ace who now turned himself around.
Damn… why couldn't the other one keep his shirt close instead of showing of these muscles all the time? Even if he called Ace his step-brother, he couldn't deny the fact that the other was indeed kinda hot.
Law suppressed a groan. Maybe it was a bad idea to have this talk when he was close to his heat. Especially since Ace had freshly presented.
How hadn't he noticed the change in the other's scent? It had become somehow more dominant.
"I'm not having any kind of problems. Must be your imagination". Ace grumbled. Law rolled his eyes. Typical Ace. Trying to deal with his problems alone.
"Sure, if it's my imagination then why do you seem pissed if things didn't go your way. Even Luffy doesn't want to be close to you at the moment, because you are a stingy meanie. So tell me, Ace, what is on your mind except for the trouble with your instincts?" Law pinched himself slightly to keep his focus. It also didn't help that he got a full hit of Ace's scent. A small groan left him.
Damn it, he should have taken the stronger suppressant. How should he keep a calm head and got the talk over completely?
It became even harder when Ace surprised him and pinned him to the futon. Trapping him slightly under the slightly smaller one.
"Just form your reaction, I can tell you are having trouble with your instincts, Ace", Law tried to keep his voice from shaking. "Shut up", Ace growled above him and bit his shoulder. The surgeon bit his lower lip to suppress a groan.
So looked like Ace's instincts had decided which option without hearing about them. Well, talking was now useless. Especially since his own heat-instincts started to kick up and Ace was quickly able to reduce him to a whiny, needy, submitting mess in heat.
Luckily, he took this stupid birth control pills despite not having a mate.
Also, maybe he should also lie that this was the only option, because damn it felt good to not have to deal with the heat alone.
Ace starred at Law's naked form next to him.
He had done it. He had taken advantage of Law who had gone into heat and wasn't really able to defend himself at that point.
Ace hid his face in his palms. How could he face Law when the other woke up? How could he face Luffy? His baby brother would be disappointed that he wasn't able to keep his instincts in check. How could he face their grandpa and Cora-san again? Both had told him to take care of the two others. Especially when Law went into heat. Damn the effects of paramecia devil fruits on Omegas… Hell, he even said he would beat up any Alpha who came to close to Law when the surgeon went into heat and was very very submissive at that time.
And he turned out to be an Alpha who can't keep his instincts in check and took advantage of that…
"Feeling better now?", Law's voice interrupted his thoughts. It lacked any emotion Ace would have expected. To be true, the other sounded kinda amused.
"How can you ask for my well-being after …", Ace began but was interrupted by a pair of arms around his waist. "If you are on this trip you better shut up. I knew what I was getting into… Even if I had hoped that I was able to talk about it first before it happened", Law said.
This was a bit shocking. Law had intended to let him take advantage of the other?! Ace wanted to say something… but he couldn't. Well more, he didn't know what to say and he was still surprised that he was hugged by Law who also initiated the hug.
"Since you became a little more aggressive if things didn't go your way, I have suspected that you would present as an Alpha. Even if the chances were low. You like to go with your instincts which are now messed up because in the early presentation stage for some strange reason Alpha always think they are always right in their decision. Adding the effect Logia devil fruits have on Alpha with your natural temperament, you are a complete mess as long as you either get it under control by training and more training or get a mate. Therefore, I would like to offer you a deal. We mate. Your instincts will be easier to control and maybe your mood will be better", Law mumbled.
Ace turned his head in shock. Law couldn't have just suggested what he thought he had heard. "You are really thinking about mating with me? Are you sure?" "Yes, I am. If you want to know. It has plus points for me, too. The heat cycles will change form every two months to every four months, mated Omegas are off the radar of Alphas until they went into heat and the last point, I'm tired of spending my heats alone trying to pleasure myself", Law said.
The Alpha studied the other carefully. To him, the deal sounded like Law offered him his body so that he was able to keep his instincts and temperament in check. This sounded nice in the way Law had worded it. Especially since there were plus points for the other, too.
But… a big negative thought crossed his mind. What would be if he somehow knocked Law up and the child would be born? The child which inherited the cursed blood of his father. A child with a father who shouldn't exist. Also, what if…
"Ow." Law had hit. "What was that for?" "For the stupid thought, you most likely have. No one who is on the ship cares about who your father is. But they care about Ace and they want Ace to live!" "But…" "No buts. Otherwise, I will tell Luffy that you have your doubts again."
Ace felt a cold shiver running down his spine. Luffy would turn into a whiny brat if he heard about that. He hated when his baby brother was that way. First, it was annoying and second, he couldn't say no to Luffy's demands in that phase.
"Good. So since there are no other problems. Is it fine with you that we mate until we find other people?" "What… What if there is no other person for me to find?", Ace mumbled and looked down.
"You are thinking about this soul mate-stuff. That when you present as an Alpha that you hear the first words which your soul mate will say to you on your first meeting?" Ace nodded. "I didn't hear anything… only silence…", the fire user mumbled.
"There are various answers. Your soulmate can be mute. You already met your soulmate, but we will leave this one out as you would have felt it. The third option would be that your soulmate doesn't say anything for the first time you met." He felt Law patting his shoulders. "But many people live without their soulmate. Happy with their mate they grew to care for and love. Some even reject their soul mates for the person they mated with. So, don't think too much about that stuff too much. I care for you, Ace. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here right now", Law said.
Ace nodded. The words did help a bit. He still had his doubts that this was really going to be okay.
But then another thought crossed his mind. The black-haired one felt a grin ghosting over his face. "Does that mean I am allowed to hug now every time, too? After all, I am your mate now, Torao", Ace teased and was lightly hit. "Don't push it too much, idiot. You are the one who will explain it to Luffy. He is your baby brother, after all."
The Alpha groaned. This talk with his baby brother wasn't going to be easy… Especially after he acted a bit like a jerk towards Luffy in the last days.
"Don't worry, Luffy only calls you a stingy meanie." Law's comment and chuckle didn't help one bit.
Luffy felt free as he ran through the grass. Chouchou next to him and Zoro and Bepo behind him trying to catch up.
"Oi, Luffy, slow down. We have three days", the swordsman reminded him. "But we have so much to do. We have to explore, hunt, grill, eat, play eat and so much more", Luffy stopped and waited for Bepo and Zoro to catch up. Chouchou jumped around his legs so the black-haired one kneeled down to pat the dog. "Just wait a bit. Looks like Zoro and Bepo are already out of breath", the straw-hatted boy said.
"We run after you for nearly half a day. We are allowed to be a bit tired. How about we set the camp up here and hunt for something to eat? And after the meal, I want to spare against you, Luffy. Law said something about Busoshoku Haki and that sparing with you would be some kind of a good example", Zoro said. This piped Luffy's interest.
He hadn't really used Busoshoku Haki since they came back to the East Blue a year ago. It would be good to use it in training again.
"Let's do it!", Luffy cheered.
Sometime later, they were ready. Chouchou was next to Bepo who would be a referee. Also, the polar bear mink would interfere if he thought it would be needed.
"Try to not hurt each other. Zoro, would you for that reason keep the sheaths on your swords? Luffy, don't try to break the sheaths or the swords", Bepo said.
Luffy tapped his feet impatiently on the ground. He felt the excitement rushing through his veins. "Let's fight", he just said and jumped towards Zoro.
The swordsman blocked his kick with his swords and pushed him back. "Don't even think about holding back with your speed", Zoro said looking at him with a piercing glance. Luffy grinned.
"As you wish", the black-haired boy said. "Soru." With full speed, he dashed towards and hit him. The other flew a bit back but was able to regain his stand again.
"Santoryu", was the only thing he heard from Zoro's technique.
"Zoro, you sheath!", Bepo suddenly shouted but it seemed too late for the swordsman to stop the attack. Well, now that would be a good way of showing Zoro Haki instead of dodging like he would normally do.
Luffy lifted his arms and letting the Haki colour his arms black. He felt the sword hitting his arms. But nothing more. Luffy grinned at Zoro.
"That's Haki", he said when the swordsman jumped a bit back. Bepo was next to Luffy really fast to check if he got hurt. "I'm fine, Bepo. Look no cuts", he said and showed the other his arms. The polar bear mink looked at him slightly concerned.
"Luffy, I have a question for you." Luffy looked curiously at the swordsman. "Can you tell me about Devil Fruits? I know they grant you some strange power in exchange for the ability to swim. But nothing more. From what I have seen Ace can do something with fire and Law's making this blue sphere. But how many are there? And what is your Devil Fruit?", Zoro asked.
"Oh, Ace hasn't something to do with fire." This got him a confused look of the swordsman. "He is fire. He is a logia user. He ate the Mera Mera no Mi. Logia are Element Users or so Torao said. They can manipulate their element and turn into it. Law has a paramecia devil fruit. The Ope Ope no Mi. It helps with his medical stuff. The blue sphere is a Room. He can operate in it. Paramecia are well they include nearly everything that doesn't belong to Logia and Zoan", Luffy said and took a small break. "Zoan Devil Fruit user can turn into animals. There are normal Zoans, who transform into still living animals. And there are Ancient and Mystical Zoans. Ancients would be a dinosaur for an example. At least Torao said, it would be enough if I remember it that way. Mystical Zoans are said to be the strongest and rarest. They have some mystical powers and well they don't exist. I don't know how this works. Torao explained it that way. I have a …" He was interrupted by Chouchou who had jumped him to lick his face. The boy giggled and patted the dog's head.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed how Bepo hit Zoro for not being careful with the sheaths. The polar bear mink also threatened the swordsman if that happened again, he would answer Ace and Law. So the topic wasn't devil fruits any longer.
"It was an accident!", Zoro shouted. "I'm sorry", Bepo mumbled in a slightly depressed voice. "Hey, don't bully Bepo!", Luffy said before his stomach grumbled slightly. "Ne, do we still have some food?" A groan was all he heard from Zoro and Bepo.
The camping days were fun. It was a bit sad that Ace was being a stingy meanie and Law close to his heat. It would have been more fun if they had been all together. But it had been nice to have Bepo with them.
The polar bear mink looked happier that he had been able to leave the ship again. Poor Bepo. They really need to hurry and get to the Grandline. There a mink wouldn't be looked at like he was a miracle.
Slowly the ship came in their sight. Law and Ace were already waiting for them on board.
"Torao", Luffy cheered and jumped the surgeon for a hug. "It was great to go camping." Law smirked and tousled his hair. His big brother looked somehow strange.
"Didn't you miss your big brother, Luffy?", Ace asked. Luffy looked at him. "No, you are a meanie. You wanted to take my hat away just because I got the last piece of meat", the straw-hatted boy said.
"I think, you need a talk with your big brother. Because he is very sorry and he also got his doubts again", Law told him with a grin.
Luffy looked from Law to his brother and back. He was slightly shocked. "You said, you wouldn't say anything", Ace grumbled but the older one had paled a bit. Luffy let go of Law.
"I don't want a life without Ace. Even if Ace is a stingy meanie", the boy whined and trapped his big brother in a death hug. He didn't like it when his big brother was doubting himself again. He looked up with a pout on his lips.
His brother didn't need to say anything. Luffy just knew what was on Ace's mind. Especially when the older one had his doubts.
"Ace is Ace. Just Ace, my big brother", Luffy said. A smile appeared on his lips when he felt Ace hugging him. "I know, Luffy… I know", his older brother said. "There was more you should tell him, Ace", Law sounded quite amused.
"To make it short. I presented as an Alpha and well… Law and I decided to mate until we found someone else…", Ace said.
Luffy blinked at his big brother confused before he poked his nose and asked: "So what is the problem?" He could hear Law groan while Ace chuckled. "Nothing. It's fine and I'm sorry for being a meanie, Luffy."
Also, Ace said that he was sorry. So it was fine. As long as Ace stops being a meanie everything else wasn't important.
"Ne, Torao? Since you and Ace used your devil fruit against the red nose baka. Does that mean we are allowed to use it now in every fight?", Luffy suddenly asked. He made sure to use this puppy-eyes look.
Law sighed. "Fine, but don't go overboard… We should be out of the East Blue soon. But only in fights. That means no flying around, Luffy."
Luffy pouted. Using their devil fruits in fights was fine. But no flying around? That was mean. He missed the wind in his hair. So Luffy whined: "Ace, Torao is a meanie."
So can you guys guess Luffy's devil fruit? I know I didn't leave many hints, yet. But I'm quite curious what do you guys think. I promise you that it isn't an over the top devil fruit. That much I say.
Also an explanation on the Ace/Law-part. I know, I didn't do lots of development or hints for that and it is basically just dropped onto you but remember there are Flashbacks of their childhood going to come. And the whole influence of devil fruits on the second gender and the whole system in general in the world will be picked up again and another point during the story. So I may not answer to questions on that system, yet.
But I can tell the Ace/Law-part is a little bit the reason why I posted this chapter a bit earlier than intended. I hope you had fun with it and your opinion on Ace/Law. Also, I will not mark Ace & Law as a pairing on FF dot net with the characters. Because well I could only choose four and if I put the pairing Ace/Law there, I feel like I have to focus much more on them than I did until now. So it will be tagged in AO3 after the next chapter is up, but I won't do it on FF dot net. Just in case someone wonders about it.
So see you in October~ ^^