Roger sat on the couch with his head in his hands. Ace and Sabo were in the living room, the freckled brother facedown on the carpet. Sabo was lying on the couch with his face in the pillow. With the attack on all the hero schools, there had been many deaths. And they didn't have any reason.

Many had gotten away through those mirrors that appeared in all six schools. Rouge was holding Luffy's hand, very shaken. Luffy hadn't reacted yet. To what happened. Maybe he wouldn't get PTSD from this. He wasn't hurt at all, he wasn't helpless, he didn't lose anybody. For him, he saw it as a success.

But his family didn't. The room was quiet. Nobody said a thing until Rouge said they should eat something. Luffy agreed, and Sabo got up. Ace continued to lay on the floor. Roger sat up, and sighed deeply. He felt personally responsible. It was hard to see. The strong father looked like this. Luffy hadn't seen him like this besides when it came to his trauma.

The dinner table was also silent. It was uncomfortable until Roger finally spoke. "I'm sorry, Luffy. I should have kept you home when I thought things would be dangerous. Just… nobody expected that they'd go after the kids. What was the point? They aren't causing them any trouble."

I'm okay. I didn't get hurt at all, Luffy signed after putting his fork down. And Law helped me when I had the flashback. At the worst time, and it was my own fault. It had nothing to do with being injured from the villains. It was… my own voice again.

Ace put his hand on Luffy's, squeezing it softly. "I'm proud that you handled the dire situation so well. You bounced back and then helped your friends." Only cause of Law. "Look at the good things that have happened, Lu. You saved lives. You saved Zoro, you saved some of your classmates by taking out the big ones."

Luffy looked down, and signed that he still felt like a burden, even if Law had said he didn't feel the same. "Law sounds like a good guy," Sabo commented between bites of the simple pasta dish. Nobody felt like cooking something complicated, even if it could have turned into a good distraction from what had happened. Luffy nodded, Law was a good person. He handled Luffy's flashback even surrounded by screams and sharp sounds of destruction. "I'm glad you made another good friend."

Me too.

-x-

Luffy touched a stuffed animal on his bed he'd had since he was rescued at seven, and tried to teleport it to another spot in the room. It wasn't working, but it would take time, he was sure. It had only appeared in such a dire moment, when Zoro was in clear danger. But he'd been working on it for over an hour, and there was no progress.

He had the news on his TV in the room, listening to it while he worked. The death toll of the hero students was 94. It was a sobering number and showed just how dangerous this villain alliance was. Shanks and Marco presented UA's position. The other hero courses had been off campus as well. Nobody had been at UA. No villains.

Shanks was now arguing the case that the school was safe. It hadn't been infiltrated. The press was vicious. But the two heroes and current instructors held up under the scrutiny and harsh questions. They were both calm, and Shanks wasn't smiling. It was different. Seeing him serious like this.

Luffy wondered if this would derail the school year. If the sports festival would happen, the summer camp, the provisional hero license exam, interning. Was everything going to be messed up? There was no telling how quickly the villain alliance would be finished. 268 villains had been captured, 109 dead. According to Roger, who was still honest even if the information was dark, said that it was just a small bit of what they currently knew the size of the alliance was.

The Big Mom group already had over 200 members, including allies with the family members. Kaido had an unknown number, but over 500 at least. They were a force that could be unstoppable. But why the kids? They weren't enemies. Yet. Maybe that's why, they didn't want new heroes messing with them. He was sure other heroes had figured that out, though. So, Luffy felt everyone was in danger if they really were targeting Japan now.

He finally got bored and sad with the news and teleportation practice. He went to go take a shower, for once so distracted he didn't think about how he couldn't feel the hot water or soap on his left side. When he got out, he found he had some texts. But they weren't texts from his friends, but an alert from the school.

He opened it and read that the teachers would be visiting houses to talk to each student individually. Luffy was surprised, and wondered what they wanted to talk about that they hadn't on the news.

Zoro texted, Fuck now I have to clean the house.

Is that why we never go to your place?

No! It's not that messy, Zoro texted back defensively. Luffy smiled inside with his two best friends. He laid down on his bed, and fell asleep, emotionally exhausted. When he got up, he told his dad about the meeting, and then his mom. Roger had circles under his eyes, looking like Luffy's did sometimes.

You should take some sleeping pills. "I have. They aren't working." Luffy frowned deeply, and hugged him. This was the kind of situation Luffy didn't look forward to getting in when he was a hero. When you can't save everybody. Roger hugged him back tightly. "I can't ever lose you again. We can't. Be careful and aware. Stay with one of your friends at all times," he said, desperation in his voice.

Luffy knew he was shaken up about Luffy having an episode during a villain attack. And it was justified to be worried about. Luffy was as well, but he was lucky this time. He nodded and signed that he was trying to make the best progress he could. "I know that, and I'm proud of you. I just want you to stay with someone for now." Luffy agreed to.

After that Roger was able to fall asleep on the couch. Rouge was happy with that.

-x-

Luffy and his family sat on one couch in the family room while Shanks and Marco sat across from them. Roger and those two had known each other long before they were Luffy's teachers. After all, Roger was friends with Whitebeard and Shanks had started out as an intern at Roger's agency. But now, the mood was serious and grim.

Luffy was sitting between Ace and Sabo. Ace did his best to not make eye contact wih Marco and risk giving a bad impression, even though Luffy knew that was stupid and Marco wouldn't judge him for anything, especially if he didn't even talk to him.

Shanks spoke, "On behalf of UA and the hero school board, we want to formally apologize for putting Luffy in danger. He handled it well, but it was still wrong for him to be in such a situation under our watch." Roger sighed.

"I do not blame you two. I know full well what kind of villains these are. And I know what kind of heroes you are. I'm sorry for you, both going through this." They both looked relieved with Roger's response. Luffy was sure some families had blamed and berated the two teachers.

"Regardless, it was still our responsibility to protect them. We're just lucky we have some strong students. We came here to give our apologies and also to tell you what the school board has planned to happen for all of the hero schools," Shanks said. The five sat up straighter, wondering what their answer was. "We are wishing to create dorms on campus, where the students will live for now."

Luffy immediately shook his head vehemently. He needed to be home, he needed his brothers. He would deteriorate if he didn't live with those he trusted fully. He needed his family, he was still broken. He couldn't change his whole life and routine. He was safe at home! His dad was Roger!

Sabo took his hand and said to calm down so they could continue to speak. "All of the schools would be in dorms, which is the same action that the other five schools that were targeted have agreed upon," Marco said. He looked to Luffy and said, "We know that Luffy's case is different and more fragile, but we feel this is the safest option. We'd have guards staying on campus at all times."

Luffy's face was crumpled in fear and rejection. He wouldn't leave home. This was his safe space, and that was very important. But, he could just teleport out! He could sleep at home and nobody would know. Nobody at school. Still… not coming home after school every day to be alone and relax. Would he have to share rooms with others? He'd always have to wear his sleeves. They got hot at night.

He'd have to hide everything. He would have flashbacks in front of his classmates. The Three Jis would mock him cruely. He couldn't help it, it happened whether he wanted it to or not. But they wouldn't care at all. Living with them would give them plenty of time to be assholes. And they wouldn't be caught by any adults, either.

Then Ace suddenly said, "I'll be one of the guards for Luffy's class," in a very serious and firm voice. "I'm a hero, I graduated from UA. I'll stay there and be there for Luffy when he needs it. I'm not taking no for an answer." He said it so firmly, staring at the two instructors with a challenging face.

The rest of the family didn't reject that idea. They knew Luffy needed one of them. Shanks said that was fine. Additional help from one of the highest ranked of his class would be appreciated. Luffy felt a twinge of happiness for Ace. Maybe he could give a good impression of himself to Marco. And once everything was over, he could join them!

"Everyone would get their own rooms, and private bathrooms. The dorms will be finished by tomorrow night. We'd like to act as soon as possible. But we still need family permission," Marco said. It was strange seeing both of them in suits. Not hero suits, but fancy ones. Professional ones.

Rouge didn't look happy, but didn't protest. Roger said, "If that's what it takes to keep Luffy safe, then we'll do it. If this doesn't work, though, Luffy will be removed from UA." Luffy didn't protest. That was the right thing to do.

"Of course. We'll do everything in our power to make the experience as well as we can and as safe as possible." Roger nodded, and said that was all he asked. But he pointed out that Luffy would need to leave campus on Wednesday afternoons. Luffy blushed, but the two teachers seemed to get the reason why and didn't ask.

"He'll be arriving immediately with his quirk. He doesn't need an escort." Marco and Shanks agreed. Then they bowed, apologized for the situation again, and left. Luffy walked to his room and moped for the rest of the day. He should be savoring his family time, but he wanted to be alone for now. He could be clingy tomorrow.

-x-

Luffy looked at his new bedroom with a sad look. Sadder than usual. Everything he needed was there, and some personal touches from home, but this wasn't home. All of the clothes were in the dresser and closet. His pills were in the medicine cabinet. It was cold. Even if it had a balcony, a sliding glass window, granite countertops in the bathroom. It still wasn't home.

He sat on the bed, cursing this situation. But he would have been doomed regardless of whether he chose UA. As long as he was in a school with a hero course, he would have ended up in this situation anyway. At least he was on a floor with his friends. His room was next to Zoro's and the end.

There was a knock on the door, and he opened it, seeing Zoro looking bummed, too. "This sucks." Luffy nodded. "Well, we'll help you out if you get an attack, okay? And we'll puch the lights out at anyone who isn't tactful about it." Thanks. I wonder who will be doing the cooking. "You know Sanji would be the one. To impress the ladies, of course." Luffy nodded, knowing that was true.

How long do you think this will last?

Zoro sighed and walked in to sit in the chair at the small desk. "I would think a while." Luffy knew that was true. He didn't like it, but there were too many villains involved to have a speedy resolution. "Well, at least we're here with you."

I wouldn't be able to do this without you guys. Zoro smiled sadly, and said he knew that. Sanji walked out of his own room, carrying a tub of cooking supplies. It all must have collectively cost many hundreds. "No way am I having shit food here." Zoro agreed with that and Luffy nodded, too.

The three walked down the hall, Luffy wearing comfy shorts and not jeans, though he had his sleeve covering both his whole arm and all of his leg and foot. He looked down sadly when they took the elevator down. Sanji went straight to the kitchen and put all of the cooking ware away. He turned to those in the main room and said that he was the cook here.

Hancock flipped her hair and demanded to know why Sanji was the cook. Zoro scoffed. "Why would he be a shit cook with all that fancy hardware? I doubt you can cook. You probably have servants to do it for you." Luffy grabbed his shoulder and shook his head. He knew when Zoro was uncomfortable or in a bad mood, he lashed out at others.

Though he'd never done that to Luffy. He'd done it to Sanji often, but the blonde knew it was a byproduct of stress and to not take it personally. "Okay! Let's all calm down. We all don't like this, but we have to get along," Nami said loudly. Zoro sighed and walked back and to the lounge.

Luffy watched him leave before he let out his own small sigh. Sanji cooked what he wanted. He knew what tasted best and would want to make a good first impression. Luffy went to follow Zoro, and found Law was in there, reading a book. He looked up at Luffy when he entered. He didn't look happy either.

Zoro was sitting on a couch and Law was on the floor, sitting with his back against the wall. How are you? Luffy asked Law. He put his book down and glared at the floor. Luffy waited patiently for an answer, and Zoro was clearly listening in, too. "I have severe insomnia. I have a special mattress for it, and they couldn't get it set up here."

Luffy was sad for him, too. Was anybody happy about this? "Stupid fuckin' villains," Zoro hissed. "What do they want?!" He kicked the chair across the room. He was very, very stressed if he started getting physical. Luffy teleported into his room and split a Xanax into two and got a bottle of water. He appeared in front of Zoro and handed him the pill. I think you need this.

Zoro sighed. "I'm sorry. Thanks," he said and took the pill. Law wondered if Luffy was allowed to share his medication. It's just xanax. Besides, Zoro's taken this at my house multiple times. Especially in the beginning.

"Beginning?" Law wondered.

"After he was found," Zoro answered, picking up the chair and bringing it back to where it had been. Law's face fell at that.

"It must have been very hard for you all," he said sincerely. Luffy was watching him with a conflicted face. He'd shared a lot of personal things with him, he felt they were good friends. He should show him. Though me might be disgusted. Though, he couldn't see Law being disgusted by burn scars.

"What are you doing?" Zoro asked when Luffy pulled both of his sleeves off. He ignored him and just stood in front of Law with his burnt limbs completely visible. Law's eyes widened, and Luffy was surprised when he got up and took his hand and looked at the burn. He sighed. "I wish you didn't have to hide it."

Zoro was silent, watching without any input or expression. They'll think it's disgusting, Luffy replied, and put the covers back on, sliding them up all the way. They already know it was bad from my other side.

Law looked like he was deliberating something, before he asked what had happened. How he'd gotten the burns. Zoro stepped in, going to say Luffy shouldn't talk about it. He put his hand up. He'd shared a lot with Law and never regretted it. They drenched my left side in some sort of chemical. Then they set it on fire. It didn't take long to lose all feeling in my left side.

Law was glaring fiercely at the floor, fists balled. He was so pissed at the people who did this to Luffy. And he knew who they were. He knew their names and faces. Luffy didn't want to know and was glad that Law didn't tell him. Zoro's phone beeped and interrupted the solemn silence. "Dinner's ready," he announced, and pocketed his phone again.

Luffy made sure the sleeves were on all the way and then went back to the main room and sat at one of the four tables. Sanji actually did well to make enough for everybody, even the Three Jis, to eat. He gave Luffy a smaller serving than the others, but thankfully, nobody said anything about it.

Vivi and Kiku did the dishes, and there were no leftovers. Most of the students sat on the huge couch and watched the news, all quiet. Besides Luffy, who went to his room and took his sleeves off and climbed into bed, turning on his TV mounted on the wall and watching a show Ace liked.

He was in the dorm directly next to Luffy's class'. Luffy's balcony faced Ace's. He kept the curtains open in case his brother appeared. He didn't really pay attention to the show, distracted, wondering what life living here would be like. Would it be as bad as he thought it'd be? Or was he being pessimistic and it wouldn't be too bad?

He'd just have to wait and see. When it reached 10:30, Luffy brushed his teeth and took his nighttime pills. He did fall asleep, but it didn't last long. He woke up at midnight. On the dot. What a weird coincidence. His stomach rumbled. Sometimes he woke in the middle of the night, hungry, but a handful of almonds or raisins usually fixes it.

But he didn't have those things with him. He'd have to hope there were snacks in the kitchen. He put on his sleeves quickly, hating it. He teleported to the kitchen and looked in the cupboards and found a packet of crackers. He turned around and saw Law on the couch. He clearly wasn't asleep.

Luffy frowned and teleported to his room. He turned on the bedside table's lamp and put some water in the kettle, letting it boil. He waited on his bed, exhausted. He ate the handful of crackers. When the kettle turned off, he put in the sleepytime tea in a mug that usually helped him out if he couldn't sleep.

He appeared back in the kitchen and walked up behind the couch. He startled Law, but only a little. He had dark circles under his eyes. At least there was no school the next day. Well, maybe that was a bad thing. Being distracted with school would be nice. But, he knew they'd talk a lot about what the school year would be like from then on.

It should help you sleep, Luffy signed. Law thanked him and took a sip. "You always bring me drinks. First to help me stay awake and now to help me sleep. How come?" You're my friend. And I feel bad for you. "So pity?" Kind of. Law laughed sortly. "At least you're honest." Luffy nodded and turned the TV off. You can bring me the mug tomorrow. Law said he would and thanked him again.

Luffy was then in his room, and fell asleep and stayed asleep.