In the end, Ace couldn't take it anymore. Before Shanks returned, he decided to take a quick walk around the nearby Sabody Park to clear his head. Leaving a note just in case their guardian returned sooner home than expected, Ace exited the silent house. He walked down his street then took a left, almost subconsciously taking the familiar path down to the few pathetic patches of dead grass the boys in the neighborhood called a "park."
Approaching the childhood haunt, he took a seat beneath the netless basketball hoop made of corrugated metal. The single street light shined down on him in the quickly fading daylight, forming a small yellow circle around him. Retrieving and lighting a smoke from his inner pocket, he placed his elbows on his knees, allowing himself to be swallowed up in the hazy gray smoke.
"Oi, the nii-chan over there."
Ace looked up as a group of street boys approached him, hands shoved in their pockets and confident smirks on their pimply faces. They were new in the area; most likely why they now sought to pick a fight with Portgas D. Ace.
Ace stood up to greet his new challengers.
"You're looking pretty lonely there, aren't you?" the first punk asked, casually removing a razor blade from his pocket. So they were cowards who hid behind pathetic weapons. This would be easy game. Ace almost grumbled. Hard prey was difficult to come by.
" Nah," Ace responded lightly smiling as the gang circled around him. Like vultures.
"Well…then," the circle closed around him, "want to play with us?"
Ace smirked, dropping his smoke to the ground and crushing out its light with his heel.
"Good thing you happened by actually, I'm in a pretty bad mood." Ace's fake smile slid off his face. His eyes were cold. He beckoned towards the punks.
"A couple of human punching bags were just what I needed."
…...
Luffy did not speak or look at Ace the next morning. He glanced once at the band aid half-hidden underneath Ace's bangs, but didn't comment. Shanks seemed to notice the tension between the usually inseparable brothers, but tactfully remained silent. He occasionally glanced curiously at them over his coffee though, his eyes darting between Luffy, who ate while staring into space, and Ace, who merely picked at his food.
The brothers left separately for the first time in ten years that day; Luffy, walking despite the gray clouds promising rain, and Ace, driving alone.
By the time Ace had arrived at school, Luffy had already dissolved into the large crowd of the student population; the familiar black head nowhere to be found. The realization further depressed the older D. as he dragged himself to class, backpack weighing heavily on his spine. He never realized how heavy his history textbook was until then. Making his way towards his seat, he ignored the greetings of his peers and slumped down into his arms, face hidden.
"Yo, grumpy pants," Law plopped down on the seat beside him a few minutes later and poked his friend in the side. Ace barely reacted, slightly twitching his head in acknowledgement of Law's greeting.
"I take it things went down bad with Luffy kun?"
Ace grunted. "We got in a fight," he admitted dejectedly.
"Oh?" Law did his best to keep his tone light.
"He told me to stop treating him like a kid."
"And?"
"He told me to get out of his room."
"So?"
"So…I got out of his room."
Law rested his chin in his cupped hands, nails painted immaculately black as usual. He stared at Ace pityingly.
"I understand where Luffy kun is coming from though. He's not a baby anymore, Ace. No offense, but even I think you're overbearing."
Overbearing?
The thought threw Ace off. Wasn't Luffy the one always following him around, trying to do everything he did? Since when had his brother stopped needing him? The idea filled Ace with hurt.
Since when did I become an annoying existence?
"What am I supposed to do then?"
Law shrugged. "I'm a relationship extraordinaire, not a sibling extraordinaire. You have a brother complex. Simple as that."
Before Ace could question what exactly he meant, the bell rang and their history teacher, no-last-name Marco, rapped the board for attention. Ace sighed and sank back into his arms, dreading the interminably long day he knew awaited him.
…...
Ace didn't see Luffy again until after school. He had stopped by with the student council to discuss a couple of things before packing up and finally heading home. Law had headed off with a group of his friends to karaoke leaving him alone in his slump.
He heard the voices of Kidd and Luffy before he saw them.
"Clean faster Kidd," Luffy complained, "We're never going home at this rate."
He sounded almost normal. Not moody.
"I'm trying!" Kidd growled back, "You too! Quit slacking!"
"I'm not slacking!"
"Yeah, you are!"
Ace rounded the corner and found the two boys glaring at each other, both wielding the school mops as if they were about to start sparring with them. Eustass Kidd was at least a head taller than Luffy, scarlet hair like a giant lick of flame on his head. He had broad shoulders and a thick chest; a muscular build that surpassed even Ace's. But Ace knew if the two of them engaged in a physical fight, he would crush the boy as he had the upper hand in speed and effective utilization of raw power.
He wondered if he should approach Luffy and at least offer to give him a ride home.
This is the quickest way to the main entrance. And why should I be nervous about passing by my own brother?
Suddenly feeling ridiculous in his own concerns, Ace took a step towards the younger boys. He had absolutely no reason to go all the way around the school simply to avoid Luffy. Sibling fights were a common occurrence right?
Ace was less than ten feet away when Kidd suddenly grabbed Luffy by the collar and bundled him against the wall. The mops fell to the ground with a clatter. With a jolt, Ace recalled yesterday's events that had been pushed into the back of his mind. Eustass had hit Luffy which had initiated their fight and resulted in the obliteration of a wall. Ace had told himself he would beat the living daylights out of Kidd for laying a finger on Luffy. And now he was doing it again.
I'm gonna kill him
His fight with Luffy became a minor concern. Rage took over. Ace stepped forward, fists clenched. He wasn't called "fire-fist Ace" for nothing.
Then he froze.
Kidd was leaning in towards Luffy. Luffy's face was hidden, but Ace was sure he saw no resistance.
"Wanna fuck, Luffy?" Kidd asked huskily, "I'll treat you gently."
"Like I would, you stupid bastard," came the sharp reply. Ace felt relief flood through him, only to be stopped cold with Kidd's response.
"I'm sorry about last time. I couldn't control myself."
"You're kidding right? You tried to rape me you horny idiot."
"Well, you threw me through a damn wall, so don't you think we're even?" Kidd leaned in closer. "C'mon Luffy, it's Friday anyway. We can finish up here and go to my place."
Luffy remained silent.
Say something Luffy…
"Na, Luffy?" Kidd was barely an inch away from Luffy now.
Say no.
"Luffy…" Kidd breathed.
Say something! Luffy!
"Hey, Luffy!" Ace called, striding towards his brother. Kidd immediately dropped Luffy and turned, glaring at the intrusion. Ace glared right back at him, reaching out to grab Luffy by the arm.
"We're going home."
"I have to clean," Luffy protested as his older brother dragged him away, "Punishment. Remember?"
"Well, you can start it from next Monday."
"Ace!" Luffy jerked his arm away. Obsidian eyes glared reproachfully back at him. "I said I need to stay and finish cleaning up!"
"Too bad." Ace threw Luffy over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Luffy kicked but to no avail; Ace was too strong and too upset.
Ace finally set Luffy down in the school parking lot as he unlocked the car. He opened the back door and motioned for Luffy to get in. Luffy crossed his arms and refused to budge.
"Luffy," Ace started warningly.
"What's your problem?"
"Huh?"
"What is your damn problem?" Luffy repeated, raising his voice angrily.
"What's yours?" Ace demanded.
"You!"
Ace stopped short. He tried again. "Are you acting this way because of Kidd? Do you like him? What did you mean he tried to rape you?"
"Why don't you ever listen to me? I said the problem. Is. YOU." Luffy threw up his arms. "This has nothing to do with Kidd!"
"He just tried to kiss you! Did you sleep with him?"
Ace realized he couldn't seem to form comprehensive thoughts, his shock intermixing with his frustration and hurt. He was being unreasonable, he knew, but wasn't Luffy also being harsh?
"It's none of your business," came the cold reply.
That did it.
"HOW IS IT NONE OF MY BUSINESS, IF YOU'RE FUCKING GAY?" Ace yelled, slamming his fist into the top of his car. It left a dent. Damn.
When he looked back to Luffy, he realized he had made a mistake. The younger boy was staring at him with what he interpreted as a mixture of disgust and hurt. Ace ran a hand through his hair, blowing through his teeth. He face his brother again.
"I didn't mean that, Luffy I just—"
"I'm going home."
Luffy turned around and started to walk rapidly away from his older brother. Ace started to run after him.
"Wait, Lu—"
"STOP FOLLOWING ME!"
"Luffy!"
It was no use. Luffy wasn't stopping, his head down. Ace sighed and stared after the receding back. He had just exacerbated the problem. Why couldn't he keep his cool around Luffy?
He watched Luffy step into the street, heading towards the other side. A flash of red caught Ace's eyes. The streetlight.
"Luffy!" Ace started jogging towards his brother. "Wait! The light hasn't change yet!"
The younger boy didn't seem to hear him, continuing with his head down. Ace approached the edge of sidewalk. He opened his mouth to call out again when a warning honk flooded his ears, cutting off his voice. Luffy and Ace both turned to see a large, green truck hurtling towards them, the drive honking madly.
Luffy froze, his eyes wide. The car was nearly upon him.
"Luffy, move!" Ace screamed.
Luffy's head slowly turned. The headlights filled his vision. His legs locked in fear. The other end of the street suddenly seemed very far away. Ace was yelling something but Luffy couldn't hear him. The only sound he heard was the fierce pounding of his heart.
Ace started running before he realized it. He stretched out his arms, thrusting his body forward with his powerful legs.
"LUFFY!"
Luffy felt himself stumble forward as something hit him hard on the back, sending him careening into safety. He fell to the side of the road, the breath knocked out of him as he crashed into the cement. His head snapped around as the truck slammed into Ace's body.
Luffy's chest convulsed. Somebody was screaming. Ace's body skidded to a stop a few feet away and lay still. The truck pulled sharply off to the side, finally slowing down enough to stop. As the alarmed driver came running towards them, Luffy forced himself to his knees and crawled over to the broken body, panic threatening to consume him.
It was only then he realized it was his voice crying out in raw pain and fear.
"Ace!" Luffy shook his brother's shoulders, "Na, Ace! Wake up! Ace!"
Onlookers had begun to gather, gasping and pointing. Luffy barely noticed them. He pulled Ace's limp body into his arms, sobbing.
"Ace. Wake up…Ace!"
Luffy hugged Ace to his chest, crying uncontrollably. "Don't be dead," he begged, "don't be dead, Ace!"
…...
Somebody is calling my name
Ace felt strangely detached. As if disconnected to the world. He could make out a face through his blurry vision.
Luffy, why are you crying?
"Don't be dead, Ace!"
Luffy….
He tried to reach out but his hands wouldn't move. He tried to speak but his throat wouldn't work. He stared listlessly at Luffy's tear-stained face, unable to do anything.
I'm sorry Luffy
The waves of unconsciousness swept over him. Everything went black.