~.~
"So this is where you've been going every day?" The boy asked as he jumped down beside Ace making said boy take a few steps back in surprise.
"Shut up!" the older raven haired boy shouted while throwing a punch the nekomimi boy's way who dodged it easily just like the following ones. The small boy easily danced out their way.
"So this is the Luffy-guy you've been talking about?" The blond haired boy asked looking the smaller boy up and down. He definitely fit the description Ace give him to the last T.
Luffy grinned as he dodged a kick curtesy of Ace. "Oh, you've been talking about me?"
The boy glared at the small chibi that somehow managed to avoid all of his attacks "Yeah I've been complaining about how annoying you are!"
"And gloomy and creepy." The other boy added still thinking of the best way to approach the situation.
"Is that so." Luffy said with an innocent smile.
"Doesn't he realize that we're insulting him?" The blond inquired the taller raven haired boy.
"How come he's here?(pant) I always took the long road and was careful I made sure no one followed me!" Ace shouted annoyed before he felt a sharp pain in his side and stumbled forward.
"Hey you. Are you Ace's friend?" Luffy asked as he seemingly teleported in front of the blond who sweat-dropped slightly.
'He just hit Ace didn't he?' "Shut up and stop calling me 'You'!" The boy said trying to bat away the kid like someone would an annoying fly with his pipe but of course no luck there.
"Then, what's your name?" The boy asked with a small grin from behind the blond. When did he get there?
"Sa- I won't tell you! This is why I said you should just live here!" The blond said giving a sideways look to Ace while trying and failing to get rid of the pest known as Luffy. "Taking that round trip and training in the mountains each day just causes us a lot of trouble!" Ace looked like he wanted to retort but fell short of words while Luffy observed their interaction with an amused smile playing across his lips. "What are we gonna do?"
"Now that he knows our secret… I'm sure he'll just tell someone if we let him. Let's kill him." Ace said as he finally straightened up giving a dark glare to the small hooded person.
Sabo nodded. "Alright. Let's do that."
"Hm… but haven't you tried that already?" Luffy asked from behind Ace making the boy jump forward in fright. "Quite unsuccessfully I might add." The boy's voice resounded from behind some trees. It was creepy how he manage to appear and disappear always where they least expected him.
"You knew!" Ace accused, they both could hear the purring like voice chuckle but couldn't pinpoint it thanks to the echo. "So what are you gonna tell Garp now?" the older raven haired boy asked while he and Sabo stepped closer to each other. Luffy could attack from anywhere; he could try and get revenge. The boy had yet to leave and judging by his behavior he seemed amused if anything.
Luffy sit down on a branch just above them lazily. "Why would I do that?" He asked truly curios, the two were looking everywhere but at him. Ah he loved playing around with them. It was so much fun.
"Aren't you angry or frustrated?" Ace asked feeling slightly stupid for even asking.
"Why should I be?" again the deceptively innocent voice asked.
The taller raven haired boy frowned did he really need to clarify that? "Because I tried to kill you."
"You did. So why?"
"What do you mean by that. Why I tried to kill you? Or Why you should be angry?"
"Both."
"You…" the blond looked around with a puzzled face. "… shouldn't you value your life more…"
"That's a weird thing to say to someone you plan on killing." Luffy said with a small smile from his 'hiding' place. The boy clad in blue at least had the decency to blush. He was almost back to back against Ace now, who was just about to explode. And so he did.
"Now you see what I'm talking about!" Ace shouted annoyed to his partner in crime. "This guy is just too wei-!"
"Shush!" Luffy said placing a hand over their mouth making them both even more annoyed. How did the boy mange to sneak behind both of them.
"I heard someone shouting from over there! A child's voice" A gruffly voice said stopping whatever the two wanted to say next. Luffy took away his hand as the two panicked slightly.
"We'll worry about him later" the blond reasoned quietly making Ace give in with a nod.
"If we don't get away from here, they'll find our treasure!"
"Those brats are pretty famous around these parts… Ace and Sabo. You're absolutely certain it was Ace who stole your money right?" one of the pirates asked making the one with a bandaged arm nod apologetically.
Thanks to their conversation the tree easily established that Ace stole from the wrong guy this time, Captain Bluejam a pirate apparently. Luffy sighed inwardly, this guys could become quite troublesome. But… it wasn't really his problem. The hooded boy nodded to himself before attempting to just walk away.
"Don't just walk away!" The two whispered in synchro making the nekomimi sweat-drop slightly.
"This isn't my problem." He retorted sticking out his tongue teasingly; annoying the two even more before he was grabbed by the back of his hoodie. In Ace's defense he only wanted to stop him from leaving he didn't intend to make him slip and hit his head. But every action has a reaction. Karma was a bitch Luffy decided when his world finally stopped spinning
"… these are some ugly birds. I want a refund!" Luffy said as the ones over him looked at each other quizzically. Of course it was the pirates; they obviously heard the sound and came to investigate and of course the two would hide quickly and again obviously leave him behind. Porchemy being the patient not kind of person he is helped the small hooded boy up by violently grabbing the collar of his cloths and hoisting him up into the air. He could see the hiding duo quite well from here. Why is that pirates saw him but not them? Somehow it just didn't seem fair.
"Who is this kid?" Luffy settled on a half-hearted glare. Well his head was still spinning and he had to concentrate on his mist not making an appearance. Chances were they will let an innocent kid go… but a devil fruit user. Not so much.
"…"
"Boss I think the kid's too scared to talk…" One of the henchman said snickering.
"Boy do you know Ace?" The man asked ignoring the snickering.
Luffy sighed. "If I say No will you let me be?" he asked but before the man could answer he continued talking. "I think not but the chances are still higher than if I'd say Yes… Still I prefer to stay ground-ed."
"Huh?" The pirates blinked stupidly at him.
"Let's settle then on perhaps?" Luffy asked masking his annoyance easily. He did not like being manhandled.
"You know them."
"Maybe… Depends."
Porchemy grinned, this will be easier than they thought. "On what exactly does it depend?"
"On what you want with him of course."
"Ace stole our money earlier today. You wouldn't happen to know where he is and what happened to the money, would you?" That was a thick question. Porchemy knew he knew something and he knew that Prochemy knew that he knew… now that didn't help with his dizziness. So much thinking just couldn't be healthy.
"Hmph… money? No idea. Can I go?" Luffy asked trying to stifle a small yawn.
Sabo and Ace both gapped at him from where they were hiding. "Cool as a cucumber. Does he not know the meaning of being nervous?" The blond asked his partner in crime who shrugged his shoulder.
"Like I said he's weird!" Ace sweat-dropped. That wasn't exactly how he'd meant by it at first… but in the end it didn't matter, the boy was actually truly weird.
"Alright, then. If you don't know, then that's that." the man said with a creepy chuckle still playing along. "I'll help you remember, so don't worry!"
"Such a nice guy…" Luffy said with a small smirk still not panicking as he was carried away. He knew he could take them all on. For better or worse this wasn't going to be pretty; he rather neither of the two saw what will follow.
"What are we gonna do?" Sabo asked panic lacing his every word.
Why was Sabo asking him that. "I don't know… first we need to move the money."
"Why didn't he fight back?! Wasn't he supposed to be super strong or something?"
"I don't know, Alright?" Ace shouted back even more annoyed.
"He lives with you."
"Lives In the same house with me… doesn't mean that I know him." Ace retorted making the blond nod reluctantly.
"We need to hurry, If Porechemy and the others come back, we're done for!"
"We need to move the treasure somewhere else, real fast!"
~.~
"Listen up, you brat! Last chance." The man said shacking him around hoping to snap the boy out of the fake bravado. "The cash that your friend Ace stole belongs to our crew. So tell me."
Luffy sighed "It's amazing how you can embrace stupidity and arrogance at once. It says a lot about your efficiency." His eyes seemed to glow golden in the shadowy room.
"You!"
The boy glared at the man. "First before I forget it, I need to thank you for being so helpful and getting me back on my feet… and then lifting me even higher." Before the man could even question what the boy meant he fell backwards with a sharp pain in his stomach. Luffy kicked the man away and swiftly landed on all fours making the other pirates blink twice in wonder.
Porchemy let out a growl as he tried to sit up. "A-attack him, you idiots what are you waiting for!?"
The boy grinned behind the hood as he set his eyes upon his prey Weakling, Useless one and two and Arrogant idiot who thinks he's in charge. "Let's play then, shall we."
The first that got to him had bandages on his hands. Luffy let Weakling's punch fly beside him so he could grab his unbandage hand so the man won't get away. Keeping the man in his reach he quickly punched him in the stomach a few times with his free hand still not letting him go and followed up with a kick. He let go and the man was thrown in the of another pirate Useless one. He quickly run up to them and kicked the Weakling from behind making the man let out a pained yelp as he and Useless one fell to the ground. He chuckled slightly before he dodged a few punches form Useless two before one punch hit, well a wall that is. Considering they were in a rundown shabby rack that barely stood, it went right through the plank of wood that was the wall and got stuck there. The small boy grinned deviously as he punched the man in his unguarded side. The man screamed as he fell to his knees trying his best to guard himself with only one hand and get his hand free simultaneously.
The two other pirates Weakling and Useless one approached Luffy from behind trying to be sneaky. Unfortunately for them he could hear them from miles. The hooded boy jumped over the first pair of hand and kick Useless one in the head. Anchoring his feet around the man's neck to give him enough momentum to turn around midair and repeat the action with his other foot. The power behind the move was so great that Useless one flew through the air and hit Weakling who managed to grab the man heading his way. The boy smiled as Weakling throw the Useless one to the ground then tried and attack him. He ducked and the pirate sail right over him and hit Useless two instead. Good news he managed to free the man's hand bad news well Weakling made Useless two go through said wall.
"Idiots! What are you doing?" Porchemy asked annoyed as he put on his spiked gloves. The kid was playing them against each other. Ducking and dodging so they hurt each other instead of their target. The man throw a punch Luffy's way the boy dodged it with more effort than it took to defeat the others. "Our captain, Bluejam is inhumanely brutal!" Arrogant idiot said making Luffy file away the information for later. The man was a better fighter than most hoodlums and bandits he meet on the island better not get careless. "We don't have time for this!" he continues his rant.
~.~
"Ace!" Sabo shouted before he doubled over panting gravely.
The raven haired boy looked at the blond with a questioningly. "What's wrong? Have they gone to our old hideout to look for money?"
"No they haven't… There's no way they'd know where to go!"
"What do you mean?"
"That Luffy-guy…he still haven't told them a thing! There's no doubt that he's being tortured I thought that he would spill the beans right away. This doesn't make any sense. At this rate, he'll die! No matter how strong he is there's no way he could take them all on!"
~.~
"Just… Die…" Porchemy said making both Ace and Sabo's eye widen as they speed up toward the rundown shack.
"Stop it!" Ace and Sabo shouted as they tore down an entire wall making the eyes of the ones inside widen.
"Yo…" Luffy greeted them awkwardly from where he was sitting from that being Porchemy. Weakling, Useless one and two were laying dead somewhere on the ground while Porchemy was in the middle of bleeding out. The man was drifting in and out of consciousness meanwhile Luffy was sitting on his back with small dagger in his hands. The large man obviously had been tortured brutally if the cuts on his back were anything to go by.
"…y-you killed them?" Ace asked much paler than he was before while Sabo choose to empty his stomach a few meters away. They were no strangers to violence and death but it was the first time seeing something like It from up close.
"Yes…"
"W-why?"
"Cause you're an idiot and they were dangerous. Besides they found out a secret of mine. I couldn't let them just go." Luffy replied as he stood up and started walking the man would die anyway in a few minutes top so there was no reason for him to stay by his side.
"You… is it my fault? Are they dead because of me?" Ace asked with anger in his eyes as he caught up with the smaller boy and blocked his path.
"Who knows… somehow I just didn't want you or him to die." Luffy said before he walked away. Had he stayed he would have seen the shocked expression that made itself known on Ace's face, or the small knowing smile Sabo give seeing this.
"You want me to live?" The small hooded boy didn't knew why it was that important what he wanted for the older boy but it Was important to Ace. So he stopped turned around and answered him with a sincere. "Of course I do." Then reassumed walking.
Luffy truly didn't know if he killed them because they knew about his devil fruit or to protect Ace and Sabo. Ace had become a somehow important person to him without himself realizing it, and Sabo, well he barely knew the boy but he was important to Ace. When the pirate started talking about how brutal, merciless and unreasonable his captain was, the nekomimi boy realized. There was no way the man could find out about what truly happened. Bluejam would never forgive Ace and Sabo for stealing from him, nor would he let someone with a devil fruit like himself live peacefully. So the answer was simple everyone who knew about these had to die. Like they say dead man tell no tales.
"…"
"…"
"… how long do you plan on following me?" Luffy asked a bit annoyed after a few minutes. He sacrificed enough of his precious time already on socializing today. He neither had the time nor the patience to play friendly with those two more than this. They probably thought he was a monster anyway, so why were they still following him?
"You're hurt." Sabo put it oh so sensitively.
"Oh you worried?" The boy asked teasingly, he couldn't help it. It was an automatic defense mechanism just like sarcasm when someone was attentive with him. "Wounds like this get better with one lick." Now both boys looked at him weirdly. Yeah talking about animal remedies around human would warrant that look. Luffy sighed as he continued walking a few steps before he was grabbed by the cloths and yanked back. Was it him or this looked like the start of a very unpleasant pattern.
"Are you really hurt? I can't see it at all… To begin with" Ace said annoyed before he grabbed his hood "I can't see anything because of this stupid thing!"
Luffy glared at the older raven haired boy as he tried to detach said boy's hand from his hoodie. "Let go of it!"
"No way!" Ace retorted enjoying that he finally managed to make the smaller boy flustered.
"Now!"
"No!"
"Unhand it!"
"Nope!"
"Ace!"
After 5 minutes of tug-a-war on Sabo finally separated them. "That's enough both of you. Ace stop annoying him," The hooded boy grinned at the oldest of them making said boy turn away with a frown. " also Luffy stop being so headstrong. The hoodie has to come off, since we need to treat your injuries." Now the nekomimi boy was pouting while Ace grinning victoriously. Luffy didn't know how Sabo made him agree to let them treat his injuries and decided not to think about it. One thing for sure, he made himself a mental note not to underestimate the blond. The boy's persuasive power was over the top.
The boy grabbed his hoodie shyly. It made Ace grumble. "Oh for kami's sake! What are you a girl?"
"Shut up!" Luffy hissed annoyed before taking off then throwing said piece of cloth to a giant root close enough so he could grab it, had the need arise.
"Well…" Sabo said as he looked at the small boy. Ace blinked as he too took in the sight in front of him. Luffy was small, no more like petite. He was thin with lean muscles that were barely visible. Small scratches scattered on the light almost Ivory skin. Wearing a strange mix of comfortable clothing that the boy seemed to pull off quite well. With a long short sword fastened on his back. Raven shoulder length hair held in a small ponytail. Black onyx eye glared at them in embarrassment.
"Yes be amazed… now can we move along?" Luffy asked somehow annoyed by the silence. Sabo nodded than grinned and poked the still frozen boy beside him who was still staring with jaw unhinged.
"You're…" Ace started unsure if he should say what just went through his head.
"Cute, adorable, charming, beautiful, attractive, pretty, lovable, precious, dear?" Luffy asked listing the adjectives he could remember people describing him as.
"… small."
Luffy exploded with a loud "Who are you calling small!" making Ace regain his grin.
"Hmph! Chibi, shorty."
Sabo sighed as he watched them argue yet again. Children.
~.~
"Morning." Luffy greeted the mountain bandits disgruntled. Sue him he was in a bad mood since last night.
"Oh Luffy, good morning!" Dogra and Magra greeted him respectfully. The boy was rarely in bad mood. But they learned unfortunately that it was almost as dangerous as Garp in a foul mood. They swore to never damage or spill anything on the boy's book or cloths... or any other belonging of his, never ever fucking again. Seriously the boy was like a mini pack of danger, not to mention the old marine forgot to leave the warning label with.
"Morning you useless little rascal!" Dadan greeted him careful of his mood. "Thought you were still asleep."
"I went for a morning run."
"W-wait!" Dogra said finally realizing that something was amiss here. "If you were out than who is sleeping upstairs?" The three rushed upstairs, Luffy followed them in a slower pace and only because he needed a change of clothes and a few things from his bags.
The women blinked uncertain as he looked at him than at the figures buddle up in the blankets. " Luffy, Ace huh?... Ace… Luffy, huh? Ace, Luffy huh?" No matter how she looked at it, it just didn't add up. After repeating their name for a few times much to the boy's amusement she finally had enough. "Ace, Luffy! Who is that?" Dadan demanded.
"Oh,"Luffy perked up with a small smile behind his hoodie. "He's Sabo." Luffy explained. "He's going to stay with us from now on." He added then as an afterthought.
"Huh?! You got to be kidding me! Why would I take care of another unruly brat." Dadan shouted annoyed making Luffy's patience finally run out. Turning around from his bag he fixed on her the famous Garp glare.
"Any objections?" He asked slowly with a voice that oozed danger.
"No. No objections here." Dadan answered out of reflex making the small boy smile pleased.
"Good. And let them sleep in, yesterday was tiring." The women looked like she wanted to object for a second before she was reintroduced with the Glare.
Dogra sighed. "So it's settled… "
"You know…" Magra started as he watched the mini devil disappear around the corner with a bunch of fresh cloths. "…I'm starting to see the resemblance."
"Only now?" Dogra asked seemingly amazed by the fact. "The boy is like a mini Garp, a small evil, destructive, wicked and vicious one that is…"
~.~
Dadan let them sleep in. It was the first sign that something just wasn't right.
"Ace!" The large women said with annoyance lacing her every word. "Just because he said that… I let you sleep in don't think it's a trend…And you- don't think you're just going to stay here!" Dadan said giving a pointed look at Sabo who only smiled. After a lengthy one sided conversation Sabo become her charge too. The blond haired boy just had a way with the words.
"Oi, old-hag." Ace interrupted the women's sulking over her second defeat. "You said 'he' you meant Luffy didn't you?" The women nodded. "That stupid chibi doing something unnecessary again!" The boy fumed making Sabo smile slightly. The boy was too proud to accept help, no maybe it was more like he didn't believe help could be given to him just like that, without the giver expecting anything in return. "Where is he?"
"He left already." Magra said making the boys share a look before they dashed out.
~.~
They easily found the spot Luffy was lazing around. He was sitting on a rock on the river bank, with a large fish skeleton beside the fire that had yet to die out. They observed a few moments as the boy played around with a small wolf pup while the larger she wolf guarded the meat that was only half baked. The female must have caught their scent because it started to growl in their direction. Luffy looked up and petted the female gently who reassured sat back down while still keeping a critical eye out on the two intruders.
"You can come out now…" the small hooded boy said.
"That's so cool! How did you do that?" Sabo asked fumbling as he approached the boy, he could be such a nerd sometimes, Ace thought with a smile. So yeah that might have been cool but still, he didn't see the reason to fuss about it.
"Do what, I just patted her head?"
"Oh no, you're not playing the what/why game with me." Sabo said shacking his head.
Ace looked at the blond and small chibi questioning "What Game?"
"You know, him always answering with a question." Sabo explained making Luffy pout slightly. The blond was smarter than he give him credit for. "He did that yesterday. To you." Sabo finished with a small smirk in Ace's way who was already fuming. But before they could start quarreling again he need to know. "Yesterday you said that didn't you?" Sabo started again making the small boy turn his attention to him. "That they found out a secret of yours and could let them live… I've been wondering ever since. The peculiar way you dress, your secret, your strength, the way you can communicate with the animals…"
"What do you mean?" The older raven haired teen asked impatiently as Sabo looked at the small hooded boy intently making Luffy sigh.
"You're just too sharp for your own good…" The small boy muttered making the blond smile.
"Won't you tell us?" Sabo asked with a pleading but mischievous voice meanwhile Ace followed his example and turned a questioning gaze toward the smallest boy.
"Let me hear first what you managed to deduce up till now."
"I think you have… eaten a devil fruit."
Ace'e eyes widened as he looked at Luffy. "No wonder… I thought something was weird. How else could it be possible that you're so strong even though you're so short?"
"Who's microsized?!" Luffy shouted back with sharp teeth.
Sabo sighed as he stepped between the two. "No one said that beside I don't think his height has anything to do with this Ace." Both raven haired boys 'hmph-ed' and looked away in annoyance. "… So am I right?"
Luffy thought about it carefully, they already knew so it would be no use to deny it. "Yes, but that's not the reason I'm so strong." He pointed out with a glare. "I train a lot you know… saying it's all because of the Devil Fruit" the boy mumbled to himself with a pout. Both Ace and Sabo sweat-dropped hearing him talk to himself.
"So what can it do?" Sabo asked quite excited.
"I'm not saying! BLEAAHH" Luffy said while sticking his tongue out making Ace explode in annoyance.
"What you say chibisuke! Get back here!" The boy shouted as he tried to catch Luffy who seemingly enjoyed the game of 'tag' and taunted the boy even more. Sabo sighed as he watched them before he too was included by the rambunctious raven haired boys. There was just no escaping it.
~.~
Luffy was vigilant. There was trouble brewing on the horizon and he could smell it. Ever since the incident he kept sending spies into the city and the pirate ship, in the person of small rodents. To tell the truth he still had no idea what so ever how this ability of his worked. He could make seemingly hypnotize, well that wasn't exactly true more like compel others to do what he wanted. He couldn't use it on humans yet, it still took much energy out of him to make small rodents do his biddings. Any yeah being part animal he could understand them somehow, apparently animals used a sort of universal 'language'. Not to mention he himself sneaked into the city regularly. Being able to turn into a small feline had its advantages. His ears twitched slightly as he heard some hoodlums talk. Bluejam did find out that Ace stole his money, and he might have place them in bigger danger without wanting to by killing those pirated.
Seeing the two hide oh so well behind some rubbish in Gray Terminal Luffy turned into his human form and approached stealthily them from behind. He quickly dragged them back into the shadows before the pirates or the hoodlums could see them all while placing a hand over their mouths.
"Shh it's me… " Luffy said quietly ending their fussing.
"What are you doing here?" Sabo whispered back just as quietly.
"Saving your asses."
"Who needs saving?" Ace asked annoyed but Luffy just dragged them back into the forest ignoring their protest all together.
"You were spying on them?" Sabo asked and Luffy nodded.
"Yeah. Wanted to see how bad it was." The small hooded boy said while the two waited for him to continue. He sighed softly. "It is bad."
"How bad?" The two asked in synch.
"Bad enough for both of you to go into hiding. Bluejam is livid and the people in Gray Terminal will sell you out either for fear or for the reward Bluejam put on your heads."
Ace frowned "Reward?"
"This is bad…" Sabo shook his head. The idea of his 'family' hearing about his name send shivers down his spine.
"Ah, it would be best if you'd leave this island."
"What?!" / "No way!"
"Look I'm not saying this because I want to. But Think of it. Bluejam is not forgiving. For now Dadan's place is a safe-haven but until when?" Luffy said gathering their attention. "If you stay here they will find us sooner or later, and I wouldn't bet on the mountain bandits to keep you safe."
"We're not running away like cowards!" Ace yelled feed up with Luffy's words.
"It's not about that! You need to choose your battles smartly! "
"No and that's settled."
The small hooded figure shook in fury "Fine! Do as you want Baka! See if I care!" he shouted before he walked away with a 'hmph' and seemingly disappeared in a matter of seconds.
Ace stood there a few seconds shocked before he tried to shout after Luffy but was stopped by Sabo who placed a pacifying hand on his shoulder."Maa don't be too angry with him. He's just worried."
"Huh? How is this worried?"
"Ace this is what you call Tsundere."
"Tsundere?"
Sabo grinned creepily while a maniacal gleam entered his eyes. "Yes tsundere, my dear friend." And so was Ace introduced to the wonderful world of deres.
~.~
Okay Luffy had been suspicious, was suspicious and right now he was very suspicious. He had been spying and his spies have been telling him the same things for the last few days. The nobles were being nice to the pirates. Now he know enough about those so called nobles they used the pirates to do some less legal and dirty jobs but this was more than that. Call it instinct and the fact that nobles hated associating themselves with pirates. And now they were nice to them? And let's not forget, the whispering. They called it major clean up, something about a Celestial Dragon and a date. The small black cat moved his tail back and fro in annoyance. He did not like the picture those vague puzzle parts put together created.
"Luffy where are you?" Ace yelled on the top of his lungs.
"He should be around here." Sabo added and How did they know that? "Maybe he didn't hear us?"
"I know," the black-haired boy grinned before he started shouting again. "Luffy meat!" The small cat sweat-dropped from where he was sitting. The cat sighed before he turned back to his human form and sneaked up at Ace."Luf-Gah!" The boy shouted as his heart tried to jump out his chest.
Luffy smiled innocently "Yes?" he asked totally ignoring the glare sent his way.
"Oh you found him!" Sabo smiled as he approached the two.
"He found me." Ace said in dissatisfaction making the blond understand just what must have taken place.
"You said meat" Luffy defended himself making Sabo sigh. Sometimes he couldn't decide if the boy was making fun of them or if he was serious.
"You know that hoodie is really inconvenient." The blond said making Ace's eyebrow twitch.
"I said that already."
"Why do you wear it?" Sabo pressed on ignoring Ace grumbling.
"It's because…"
"…?" / "Because?"
"I was once kidnapped…" Luffy started trying to find the words that just seemed stuck on his throat. He wanted to get along and this story might just send them running.
"Kidnapped?" Ace and Sabo asked shocked.
"What was Garp doing? Isn't he your real grandfather?" Ace asked making Luffy sigh.
"Well he found me…and that's partly the reason I'm so strong. He trained me..."
Ace nodded while Sabo blinked between them. He had yet to meet Garp so he didn't really understand the conversation that took place. "I see…"
"I…" Luffy tried to speak just for Sabo to place a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay. There's no need to force yourself." The blond said meanwhile Ace nodded.
"Thank you…" Luffy said sincerely.
Ace grinned before he grumbled a low. "Let's catch some food." Making the other two smile amused.
~.~
Luffy learned soon that human curiosity and tenacity can become incredibly annoying. Following him was one thing, he easily managed to lose them even without turning into his neko form; what he didn't count on was their perseverance. Somehow they seemed to develop a Luffy sensor as Sabo dubbed it, he barely had time to train anymore. They always found him, popped up in the most awkward moment, disturbing his patterns and invading his personal space and territory. It was truly annoying but more aggravating was the fact that no matter how he tried; his revenge ended up in flames all the time. Say he tried to follow them, Sabo took every chance he had to pester him about his devil fruit and Ace followed the blonds example and challenged him for a fight, every time they meet. If he popped up in a time that they were concentrated or preparing for something well then Sabo made use of his curiosity to make him participate. He had to admit some of their schemes were truly interesting and rewarding, he always thought back at the delicious ramen with a smile on his lips. Thanks to that they also found out that Sabo was born into a noble family. Ah that meeting left a bad aftertaste in his mouth. Well something good came out of it, they shared their feelings and dreams. To think all three of them wanted to become pirates. Garp will surely have a field day with that.
"Yo!" Luffy said with an amused smile as he appeared behind Sabo scaring the crap out the blond. They should be getting used to it by now, but neither could.
"You're finally here!" Ace said with a small smirk.
"You were waiting for me?" The petite boy asked as he the blond pushed back his hoodie. Both Sabo and Ace complained for some reason if he had his hoodie on around them. Not when other people were around mind you, only when it was just them. Something about making it hard to read him. Which were fine by him in the beginning… but he had to admit, it just wasn't worth listening to all their complaining. Besides as long as he was careful it didn't really mattered. The only reason he had yet to reveal his devil fruit was because he enjoyed keeping them guessing. Sabo and Ace's theories were truly amusing.
Ace placed a glass before them and started to speak "Ah, since we might end up sailing on separate ships…"
"Oh where did you get that?" Luffy asked taking a whiff and scrunching up his face cutely. The other two smiled slightly seeing that. From a while back they started seeing Luffy for who he truly is. They though he was arrogant in the beginning and were surprised to find out they were wrong. Almost wrong? They boy was confident in his abilities borderline arrogant but since he had the power to back up his words they couldn't really blame him for it. Besides he had lots of positive traits. He was hardworking, trained daily which Ace approved of; read books and studied hard even through it was apparent that it was a struggle for the boy to sit put for more than a few minutes Sabo could truly sympathize with that feeling. Luffy was also quite friendly if you know how to approach him, curios, easily impressed and somehow naïve if a bit jaded.
"Have you heard? When you exchange sake cups, you become brothers." Ace's words lit up a smile on all their faces.
"Brothers? Really?" Luffy asked with seemingly stars in his eyes. He never really had a family bond such as this. His grandfather was more absent from his life and he couldn't remember what his mother or father was supposed to look like. The closest he had to a family was Makino and Kaze, Shanks maybe.
"When we become pirates, we might not be crewmates on the same ship... but our bonds will keep us connected as brothers! No matter where we are or what we do, our bond will not be broken! With this, starting today, we're Brothers!" The sake seemed to sparkle around their cups. They drunk it in one go.
"Bleagh!"
Ace nodded sharing the feeling. "It's nasty!"
"I thinghh …I'm gonna be sicgh!"
"Sabo you okay?!" The two raven haired boys shouted at one.
"I gh-an't believe… someone would dri-ngh this for fun…"
~.~
"Sabo! Who said you could cause trouble on our turf?"
"Your turf? Hah! You guys are full of it! Don't just stand there yapping, show me what you got!" the blond boy challenged them with a huge grin.
"Fine by me!" Their leader shouted before the sound of metal breaking bones cached their attention.
"Ace!" One of them shouted fearfully before their attention was once again stolen away by the blond troublemaker.
"Don't you look away!" Sabo shouted as he hit one of them with his pipe. The blond and black haired brats worked together like well-oiled machines. The sound of fighting and shouting resounded through the whole alley.
"Aaaahh!" One of them shouted as he tried to run. He may have been a coward but these kids were admittedly monsters. He cursed as small child stopped in the middle of the road. "Moove gaki!"
The small boy grinned in a feral way. In a split of second the man found himself introduced to a wall before darkness overcome him. "Let's go, the police are on the way." Luffy said in a monotone voice seemingly uncaring that he just throw a man so hard into the wall that said person was still sticking to it.
"Lu!" Sabo and Ace smiled as their younger brother walked up to them and throw the now empty wallet behind while putting the money away simultaneously.
"Shouldn't we hurry?" Sabo asked not all that worried.
"It's fine I might have… mislead them."
"Unintentionally I suppose." Luffy scoffed at the blond's words while Ace laughed.
"So why were you in the city?" Luffy sweat-dropped. He couldn't tell them that he was actively spying on the nobles and now trying to sneak inside the palace. They wouldn't let him continue. On the other hand lying to them didn't really appeal to him. So option three it was.
"I'm hungry" he said with a wide grin making them both sigh in frustration. There was just no talking to him when his mind was set on food.
That night they had quite a surprise. Garp visited unfortunately both for Ace and Sabo right in the middle of their argument over who is going to recruit the best chef on their pirate ship. Luffy winced in sympathy as both them ended up tasting the Fist of Love. The nekomimi wondered slightly if his grandfather named it sarcastically; Fist of Agony and Pain was a better fit.
"Luffy come!" Garp shouted after him as he chased the two out for some 'night training'. The nekomimi sighed as he stood up after one more longing glace at the meat and followed the trail of destruction his brothers and grandfather left behind. After the impromptu training they were all left panting on the ground.
"Luffy" The boy stood up although wobbly. "You're training still didn't end." Luffy nodded and they both positioned themselves in a certain kata. Ace and Sabo witnessed the most impressive fight they had saw until them even through Luffy was practically run into the ground. The difference in their abilities and power was evident.
"Still want to become a pirate?" Garp asked with a cold look in his eyes while the chibi in front of him only nodded. "Then stand up." The boy did. It was time for round two. It was brutal, it was a beat down Ace was shouting profanities at Garp who ignored him in favor of educating their younger brother.
"Giving up already, I feel for your nakama if they chose to follow someone like you." The marine taunted while Luffy stood back up.
"Luffy, stay down!" Ace shouted while Sabo nodded, they were both struggling to stand up and help their younger brother.
Luffy shook his head. It didn't help with his dizziness but still. "No." A simple answer. "If I back down… I don't have the right to become a pirate."
Garp smirked hearing that. "Come on then!"
Ace clenched his fists and stood up, Sabo followed his brother just a few steps behind. Luffy grinned slightly behind his hoodie and they all lunged with a battle cry.
"How did you get him… to acknowledge your dream?" Ace asked later when they were all laying on the ground, totally defeated.
"I don't think he did… not yet at least." Luffy replied with a scoff. "But how I managed to make him back off the marine thing? I made a deal with him…"
"And you won?" Sabo asked incredulously.
"I wouldn't say that… It was kind of a draw I guess." Both boys blinked with wide eyes disbelief clear in them. Luffy just sighed and started to get up with a few flinches of pain here and there. The older two not to be outdone by the chibi did the very same.
The very next day they moved out from Dadan's place. They build their own secret hideout. Those time were the most fun they all had, of course Luffy remained just as mysterious as he always was. Disappearing and then reappearing whenever he wanted but both Sabo and Ace were already used to it. He always came back sometimes in good shape and sometimes totally wrecked but they saw bits form the training he did with Garp so they didn't question even when they were both worried. There were times when the small boy didn't come home for days and Ace was getting sick from all the worry, Sabo too but he was better at hiding it. They knew that there were things Luffy just wasn't ready to share and they also knew the boy will open up sooner or later. They just had to be patient.
~.~
After another impromptu visit from Grap the older raven haired boy couldn't help but ask. "Why is it only Luffy?" Ace asked making the blond wince at the harsh tone and Garp sigh. "Is it because… he's your-"
"Grandson?! You are too just like Sabo. I train him harder than you because he can handle it and… needs it. He has no other choice but to be strong… But you and Sabo you have time you will both become strong marines you got that, Ace. Marines…" Garp looked so sad that both of them faltered for a few seconds before the raven haired boy responded.
"Were still gonna be pirates."
"What did you say?" Garp shouted before another shouting match started making Sabo sweat drop and crawl beside his sleeping brother. He couldn't help but smile at the way the small boy slept curled in a foetal position. He looked even smaller and more fragile this way. To think he was one of the strongest person the blond has ever meet. He crawled closer and Luffy hugged his arm making him smile widen slightly. A strong protective feeling washed over him. Garp didn't say it outright but he deducted as much. Someone out there was trying to harm his baby brother, someone powerful enough to make even Garp worried. He won't allow it, he will fight tooth and nails if he had to. No one was allowed to hurt his brothers. Not on his watch.
Okay big question should I go with the cannon version of the following events and have Sabo join the Revolutionary Army or let him get rescued by his brothers and become a pirate? What do you think guys and please say why yes or why no.