AUTHOR: Dr. Blueneck

Disclaimer: I suck at drawing, and even more at writing meaningful stories. So I guess that One Piece = property of Eiichiro Oda.

Heya everyone! I know it's been some time (… one year? Wow. Sorry, busy life and all that bull…) so I wanted to give you something for the summer! Another chapter should follow soon (be aware that soon could mean, like, two months… I have absolutely no time perception. None.) I'm already in the writing stage, soooo… yep.

There may be some mistakes left, sorry, I didn't have time to thoroughly check it. I'll try to correct the chapter tomorrow or next week!

Enjoy!

xoxoxox0O0xoxoxox

Firsts and Lasts of an Idiot's life

(or, A Trip down Memory Lane)

First Lie and Last Promise

xoxoxox0O0xoxoxox

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"I promise that I will never die, Luffy!"

Living the first years of his life with Makino for sole company was peaceful. When the young woman asked him to do something, he did it with little fight, glad to help his caretaker – he also did it for the sweet treats she gave him as a reward, ruffling his dark hair with a slight smile on her lips. In these moments, Luffy would happily close his eyes and appreciate the petting, barking jokingly before running around Makino, wanting her to chase him.

Makino was the one who drilled so many things into Luffy, from his manners (too often forgotten) to his soft touch (too many times cast aside for brute strength, thanks to Garp's upbringing and Luffy's own obliviousness to his strength). She sometimes had some trouble keeping Luffy in check, and kept coming with new inventive ways to keep the child busy and away from mischief.

"Here, Luffy," she said one day, giving him a blank book. "Like that, you can draw whatever you want inside, instead of trying your hand on the walls." She didn't look mad, and was smiling fondly at him.

Luffy didn't seem sheepish at all when he took the book and pencils, already imagining thousand ways to draw the jungle, the sea, the sky, and the people he loved. But Makino reached a hand and gently petted his head while saying in a stern voice, "But no more painting on the neighbours' houses!"

"But Makinoooo, I was just trying to make them look prettier!"

She bit her lip, and Luffy could've sworn she was trying not to laugh. "For me?" she asked, instead of pointing out the doubtful child's taste. And Luffy didn't even take time to think about the request, nodding obediently and enjoying the happy glow on Makino's face, proudly puffing his chest at being the one to bring such joy to the woman.

Shanks, for the short year he spent in the village, had his own way to appease Luffy ("I can't! I don't wanna swim anymore, it sucks!" – "Come on, Anchor, you don't want to be the laughing stock! One more time." – "Noooo! I'm wet, and I'm cold, and I'm hungry." – "Oh… Well, I thought you were stronger than that… I'm sad, now…" – "…Okay… BUT ONLY ONE MORE TIME!"). It was a bit underhanded, and sly, but it worked. The sole idea of disappointing Shanks chilled Luffy to the bone and filled him with determination. And even though Shanks used that to force him into learning how to swim, fishing him out of the water while bursting into laughter at the boy's angry pouts, in the end, Luffy didn't mind. Because having someone helping him brought warmth to his chest, chasing the cold left by Grandpa's absence.

Strangely enough, Garp was the one who never needed to ask nicely or to bribe Luffy. It's true that his Fist of Love was used in some occasions, when the child proved to be really reluctant or sprouted nonsense about leading a pirate life. But truth was, the old marine was so scarcely present that his only request was for his grandson to enjoy his time with him ("Let's play a game of ball, Luffy!" – "YES! But don't throw it really hard like last time, I had to fight with nasty raccoons to get it back…" – "BWAHAHAHA, it's not a game if it doesn't hurt a little, right?"), which he did happily enough.

Luffy was thrown off his rock when he came to live on Mt. Corvo. The bandits were not nice and Dadan was scary. The peaceful years back at Makino seemed to be long gone, and Luffy sometimes longed to run through the jungle, descend the hills and hide into the Party Bar until the end of times. But Ace was there, and he gave him new purposes. So he went after him, day after day, night after night, trying to keep up with the bigger boy and failing most of the times. He worked hard to make him his friend, and later his brother. He was happy to have someone who understood him in the solitary mountain.

Although he loved Ace more than life itself, it didn't mean that Luffy would let him have his way. He lost count of the number of times they tumbled into a fight over petty issues, just to prove the other they won't bend to anyone's will. Luffy was stubborn, and Ace was worse, but as the big brother, he knew when to give up and prove his sincerity to the younger one.

"I won't do it again," Ace would say with much more conviction than needed, crossing his arms in front his chest and poising as the cool, collected big brother.

And Luffy would look at him with suspicious eyes and pursed lips. "Really?"

"I promise. And you know I don't lie."

Luffy would then nod, a smile slowly stretching his lips as he forgot about their quarrels and went on trying to hug the life out of Ace who would hit him over the head, a flush creeping on his pale cheeks.

It was true. Ace never lied to Luffy, even when the truth was painful, because he didn't believe in keeping secrets from his little brother, and always wanted to set an example so that Luffy could grow into a honourable man (a pirate, yes, but still honourable).

What Ace didn't expect, was to one day promise a thing that would bring unseen consequences…

"That's it. I promise I'll never die, Luffy! How could I leave my weakling brother behind?"

He looked over the horizon, at the waves rolling under the cliff and the blue sky slowly burning into a light orange, but never at Luffy who was outright bawling, tears and snot dripping onto the grass, hands clenched around his hat as he bowed his head until it touched the ground.

The words were like ashes on his tongue, but he held still, determination burning in his eyes. (It was the last time Ace promised something to Luffy, not wanting to taint this one with meaningless others.)

And unbeknown to him, this act made to comfort his little brother and shield him from the harsh realities of life will only leave a scorched mark on Luffy's heart, and a hole in his.

Eventually, Luffy was the last promise of Ace.

And Ace became, without meaning it, Luffy's very first lie.

"AAAAACCCEEEEEEEEE…!"

It can't be, he thought. He promised me. Ace doesn't lie.

Luffy could only cry, and cry, and cry as Ace's limp body slipped from his arms. And as he went into shock, Jimbei doing his best to shield him from further attack and to flee, he finally understood something.

Some promises were never meant to be kept.

A/N: I'm not sure I'm happy with this one, but I wanted so much to give you something that I finally gave up on trying to make it more… less… meh, I don't even know.

Bringing back Ace from the grave to only remind you of his untimely death is awful, but I was up for a bit of feels! I can't write fluff to save my life… Sorry?

I hope you enjoyed the ride anyway! I'll try to make the next one less angsty, promiiiise :D (I can already tell you that it'll be about Luffy's first smiles, or something to do with Luffy's family) KEEP GIVING ME PROMPTS, LADIES AND GUYS!

Also, if you want a good laugh after this, go read my crack!fic Who let the hats out! (Yes, I have no shame.)

Au revoir, my sweet apples, I'll see you when I see you!