This chapter is rated for violence

Beep, beep, beep, beep

Luffy shuffled under his comforter and reached his hand out from the warm space to turn off the alarm clock. Normally Luffy would be too tired to even think and just go back to sleep again until his grandpa came barging into the room and drag him out the door, but today was different. Luffy was already wide awake and hiding himself under the blankets in deep thought.

Last night, something happened to Luffy which he would rather not encounter again.

Portgas D. Ace was on his mind non-stop since he came home last night and received a good long lecture from Garp about, thugs, muggers, rapists and murders out on the streets at that time of the night. But Luffy's mind was elsewhere. He dragged himself up to bed and changed into a blue t-shirt that had the 'Minecraft' logo on it and climbed into bed with nothing else on his mind but that dark-haired person. The younger teen kept imagining Aces perfect round face, with his dark grey eyes that were hidden by his black locks most of the night and of course the kiss. Luffys first kiss was off another boy, something that the teen would have never expected in a million years. And the funny thing was that, Luffy enjoyed it. He kept pushing that thought to the back of his head and just focused on what was to happen in school the next day. Marco and Thatch saw them right? Were they going to tell?

Returning to the present, the birds tweeted outside and you could hear the cars in the distant city, just outside of Luffys neighbourhood. Finally getting up out of bed the teen walked into the bathroom and ran himself a shower. He didn't know why he just needed, no had to take a shower right now. He stripped himself off his blue t-shirt, pants and underwear and stepped into the pale white bathtub and pulled the curtain around. Only he didn't wash himself immediately, no, instead he just stood and looked up at the shower-head and watched the water running down into the bath like rain.

He licked his lips again. They were sticky but he could no longer taste the beer, much to his disappointment, he wanted it to stay there forever so he would be able to remember that night forever.

Wait, what was he thinking? He wanted to forget that night but something told him that he would not have heard the last of it.

Luffy was knocked out of thought when the hot water turned ice cold making the young teen yelp and bounce back from the ice water. "Shitty old man.." Luffy cursed glaring at that shower-head. His grandpa must he using the tap downstairs. He hated it, it was so annoying and so unexpected.

When the water turned back to normal Luffy finally began to wash himself off and climbed out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist and began to brush his teeth. Looking at himself in the mirror he noted how pale he had gotten since the accident, the little scar under his eye stood out more and his eyes were darker. Shaking off the thought and thinking it was because of operations and stress of being careful with every step, Luffy left the bathroom and got dressed.

He then walked down the stairs and had breakfast with his grandpa before saying goodbye and leaving. He just wanted out of the house and do more thinking...thinking that was all he ever did now but he couldn't help himself. So much was going on and he prayed school was going to be okay. He had to say sorry to Usopp for making him wait for god knows how long on him after school. And of course Vivi. She kissed him last night at the bus stop, well it wasn't a proper kiss in fact it was on the cheek. But today was going to awkward in every way. Ace, Usopp and Vivi.

While waiting for the bus Luffy remembered Ace telling him that he and his friends sold stolen stuff and that their place was almost ransacked by the police. God, Ace must have really got a scare, as he was really desperate for Luffy to come over yesterday. Maybe Ace only did that so he would not tell anyone. Well whatever, if it was its working.

He texted Usopp and asked him if he was taking the bus or if his dad was driving him to school. he wanted to see Usopp and explain what happened, well not tell him everything of course. So Luffy went about making up a lie while waiting for his long nosed friend to reply. Odd, Usopp always texted back asap, well Luffy could only guess he was pissed at him which was understandable. His thoughts came to a halt as the familiar bus pulled up to the side-walk and the boy grabbed his bag and walked towards the opening doors. He paid the man and went to find a seat and also hoping he would see Usopp but he did not. Taking a seat at the back Luffy sighed with ease when the pain was lifted off his legs, seriously his problem was a pain in the ass!

The teen took out his phone again and once again texted his friend and asked where he was. When he didn't text back, Luffy lost a little patience with Usopp. Seriously, Usopp was acting like a kid! Just because he didn't meet him at the bus stop yesterday after school, doesn't mean he should act so spoiled! Just send him a text!

Then, Luffys phone beeped. Sighing and mentally kicking himself for having those thoughts, Luffy pressed the 'open' button but the number at the top read unknown. This was odd, but not too odd as every now and again people would receive unknown calls. So Luffy thought it was just another wrong number. Scanning down the message he tilted his head when the text just read, Good morning!

"What..?" Luffy sighed to himself, it was just another wrong number, nothing to get worked up about.

…..XxXxxX…

When he first entered the school he noted that everything was...normal.

Except no Ace, Marco and Thatch sitting at their usual spot at the steps, something he was slightly glad for. So the boy ventured further and went to his locker before going to his first class.

Usopp was sitting at his usual spot at the back of the class with his head down resting on his backpack, hiding his face. Luffy was probably going to get a lecture from the long nose boy about ditching him yesterday but Luffy braced himself and walked forward.

"Oi Usopp, good morning" Luffy greeted him politely while he planted his bag around the back of his seat, "Sorry about yesterday I…"

Luffys voice trailed off as his friend lifted his head revealing a dark bruised eye and a badly busted lip. Upon further inspection Luffy noticed a bandage wrapped around his hand also.

"Usopp...what.." Luffy was speechless, what happened, Usopp looked a mess! He was about to ask more when a thought hit him. The Franky family. Of course! Vivi had told him that Usopp waited after school for him and he knew that the Franky family had detention after school so they must have got him then..

Feeling a great surge of pity, guilt and sadness for his friend Luffy sat down beside him and put his arm around Usopp's shoulders in a comforting way. "I'm so sorry Usopp, I should have called you or something, I really am" Luffy pleaded.

Usopp, however smiled and patted Luffys shoulder. "Its alright, It isn't your fault! I was careless"

"I had a thing after school…." He froze as he was about to blurt out about Ace and the kiss as Usopp listened intently. …"My Grandpa wanted me home right away something to do with Shanks.." He lied through his teeth, hoping Usopp would buy it. The teen was relieved when Usopp seemed to buy it, and nodded in understanding. Still feeling guilty, Luffy asked if there was anything he could do for him. Turns out Usopp just wanted him to show up on Friday night and have a good time.

That he could do!

…...XxXxXxXxX…...

Luffy learned that Vivi was in the library studying as always off Nami. The orange haired teen told Luffy that she was supposedly behind on stuff which was not true of course, guess she wouldn't be joining them for lunch again today.

Luffy was both happy and disappointed with this news. Happy because he wouldn't have to face her after the awkward moment at the bus stop last night and disappointed because in a way, he actually wanted to talk to her about it. But never mind…

Lunch was normal enough, Usopp catching up on his art, Nami ignoring her food to talk on the phone to her sister about being locked out after school and Zoro and Sanji were arguing over something..

Ace was not there. Infact Luffy had not seen him all morning so he thought perhaps he was sick today or hungover. Again Luffy was both happy and sad not to see Ace here. Also none of his friends asked about last night so Marco was probably off school as well.

So far lunch was normal enough. Or so he thought.

Zoro and Sanji decided to take their fight outside… this was normal, they always did. Mostly because none of them wanted to hear them talk or more like shout in each others faces so Nami, ordered them to take it outside. And so they did.

Soon it was just Usopp, himself and Nami. Luffy didn't know if he should tell Nami about Vivi kissing him or not. So he just excused himself and walked up the front of the cafeteria to get more food when he tripped over a foot. Again.

He barely registered what happened until his head collided with the hard tiled floor and the jeering of laughter around him. He lifted his head and with one eye he saw Morgan and his gang sniggering. The best thing to do at that moment would be to just get up and walk off and suffer in silence like he always did but today...Luffy had enough.

These guys were picking on him and using him as a punch bag for months and Luffy had enough. Bad mistake

"Listen, I don't know what your problem is with me but could you stop it!" Luffy didn't mean to raise his voice, it just happened. "You people are sad and pathetic" Again that last part slipped out and Luffys eyes widened just as big as Morgans. The bullies table fell silent, as Luffy walked off seemingly proud of himself.

That is until her heard Helmeppo's voice. "You gonna just take that! Get him!" As soon as those words left his mouth Luff felt his arms being grabbed by one two of Morgans gang members and Morgan stood up and walked dangerously towards him. The scared teen gulped thickly. Stupid stupid! He was always running his mouth…

"Dont you dare..tell me what to do, you little fuck.." With that, a fist came flying towards Luffy and plunged itself into his stomach winding him. Suddenly the whole room began to chant 'fight, fight, fight' as well as harsh slurs from different students. Luffy kept getting punched by this bully who didn't seem to want to let up any time soon.

Usopp and Nami ran over and naturally tried to help but they were only held back by Morgans remaining gang members. They could only watch as their friend was punched all over his body helplessly. This was bad...Luffy felt his consciousness slipping away at every punch. Then as Morgan was about to give the finishing blow, Luffy shut his eyes tightly for the pain but...it never came.

The hall was silent and Luffy felt himself being dropped to the ground in a heap. His natural instinct was to curl up into a ball and protect himself, and so he did. When the battered teen, finally opened his eyes he gasped quietly. Morgan was on the ground, in just as bad shape as Luffy was only..worse. Helmeppo was hiding behind one of the students and his gang let go off Nami and Usopp.

What…?

He glanced up to see Ace.

The older teen was panting harshly at Morgans body beneath him, with his bloody fist held up in front of him in a threatening way.

Ace went to give Morgan another punch, wild craze in his gray eyes, only Marco held him back. "Thats enough, yoi!" He muttered letting Ace go and beckoned him out the door. Ace was about to leave, when he bend down to Morgan's terrified frame and pointed his finger at him.

"Touch him again and next time Ill not stop.." And with that he pushed past people and stomped out the doors.

Hai! Reader-Sans! Doing okay?

Anyway Ace is such a hero! Sorry if it was rushed also so sorry I cant reply to reviews Im really busy :( But next chapter I will! Hope you liked it!

Dont forget to review for future chapters!