Me: Sheesh, I'm seeing a lot of story alerts for this story XD It made me happy in a way XDD Thank you for all your support! Really, I'm crying my eyes out! *sobs* I do hope you like this!
Zoro: Usually, you would be so confident *roll eyes*
Me: No one ask you pea for brain! *stick tongue out*
Zoro: really mature there.
Me: *simply threw a fish at him* Hope ya enjoy!
2. He Said the First Word!
"Is this a good idea…?"
"It's fine. Last time he came with us, he was practically unharmed and laughing like no tomorrow."
"Last time he came with us, he was almost eaten by crocodiles!"
"Almost. The little brat didn't have a single scratch on him."
"If Dadan wasn't there in the first place, and she almost had her hand bitten off!"
"But we all made it out without a nick anyway."
"What made you think we'll have the kind of luck again?" Sabo questioned, being the voice of reason, slightly look back at the giggling toddler who was following them while 'ohh'ing and 'ahh'ing at everything he came across to. Sabo almost had a heart attack when he noticed Luffy being interested at a close by poison ivy bush before the kid had thought better of it and continued on with his 'gaze at everything as if it is interesting' activity.
"We're always that lucky."
"Or rather unlucky and somehow by some kind of godly power from above, we were able to escape without a scratch." Sabo mumbled to himself.
Like some kind of curse, though it was actually expected, Luffy's ways of bringing trouble like his grandfather (and Ace at times) is going to be the death of them sooner or later. The boy was too curious for his own good, and they often found him in some kind of danger or peril. Because of that, Sabo has gotten really either paranoid, or turned something equivalent of a mother hen. No one would blame him since he has two troublesome D.'s to make sure that they would actually live to see adulthood.
Ace was just shouldering off the whole thing; from danger, to troubles, and to messes. Most of which he cause sometimes. He means, there are only some things a toddler can at a certain age without a help from an accomplice.
It had been two years since Luffy joined their strange family, and it have been relatively well, except the fact that there are times where they have to save the kid too much for it to be healthy. Both of the boys are now at the age of 12, almost at the point of being teenagers. Of course, from what they heard from the bandits back at Dadan's; they are not exactly looking forward to the hormones and the changes that go along with it. And with that, Luffy should be at the age of 2.
In any rate, they love their little brother, in their own way.
Ace decided that little Luffy need to be toughened up. Yes, there are times that Ace would get so tender that he would actually squeal at the site about how adorable his little brother is; but he always denied. And, in truth, there was never any proof and it wouldn't be probably true if Sabo didn't accidently saw it once. Knowing that Ace, with all the pride and stuff, would harden against the toddler even more if he ever mentions it, he decided to be quiet about his sworn brother's little display of affection.
"I still say we should've taken him home." Sabo reasoned, shaking his head ever slightly in disapproving.
If you have to pick between who is the 'mom' and who is the 'dad', then Sabo would've been the mom. The day he first came to know of Luffy, he had gotten extremely overprotective of him. I mean, who wouldn't if the kid would have to live with Dadan and Ace? He had to make sure the toddler would actually act like a toddler in his age. Who knows what kind of things Dadan and Ace would have been teacher to the poor kid? They are not really the best candidate for taking care of children.
"I say its fine, no reason to panic! I laid out a path where there is no way he would encounter lions, bears, crocodile, wolves, and-"
"Luffy's gone!"
Looking back behind him, where Luffy is supposed to be, he saw that the toddler, was indeed, gone.
"Ok, now you can panic." Ace truthfully told his best friend as Sabo frantically looked from side to side, behind and front to see where the little one had run off to. And sadly, there wasn't a footprint that could indicate where he was heading.
"What if he gets eaten?"
"Ok, calm down."
"You're asking me to calm down while Luffy at any minute could be mauled?"
"I doubt it. He's a bit too skinny to be that appetizing."
While that is true, Sabo still doesn't like the fact that Luffy is out in the jungle where there are animals desperate enough to eat someone with not a lot of meat around him like Luffy. So Sabo does have every right to panic as much as he pleases.
"Where are you going?" Sabo demanded as he saw that Ace was continuing down the path to where the tree house is.
"Don't be a mother hen. He's bound to show up if we kept going. It always has been like that."
As much as Sabo dislike the thought of it, he had to hand it to himself that Ace is right. Luffy has some kind of way to pop up right in front of them as they were going down the lane. So Sabo went with Ace as he tensely looked around aware to see if he could find the toddler; rather not in something's stomach.
"I have every reason to panic, right?" Sabo deadpanned as they were near the base of the trunk of the tree house. And so far, there isn't a Luffy in site.
Ace scratched the back of his neck, looking mighty worried himself at the moment.
"As long as I have a reason to panic now too?" Ace offered.
Sabo only simply nodded.
Then the two ran into the forest to find their missing brother in the frenzy.
Ace would cuss. Yes, he would cuss if he didn't know that Sabo would've hit him on the back of the head later on (which actually hurts but he isn't going to admit that).
There cuddling with the blanket that Dadan gave to him –which was actually conveniently found in the jungle smelling like tiger dung –was Luffy, sleeping soundly with soft breaths and a smiling face.
Ace had every reason to be angry. Cause while he (and don't forget Sabo) was off going around the jungle, beating up every predator that could've eaten their little brother (and that is pretty much every single predator in the jungle), here he is, sleeping like no tomorrow as if there is positively nothing to worry about. Even Sabo wouldn't blame him for being angry; though it was probably out of frustration about being worried about their younger brother for nothing.
Sabo, on the other hand, was quite relief rather than angry, for he didn't have to go in contact with a corpse-like Luffy. Now that would be terrible.
"You stupid little brat- you gotten us all fire up for nothing!"
But he doubt seeing a bruised up two-year old would be any less terrible as well, so Sabo didn't hesitate to restrain Ace from beating up their little brother.
"Aw, lay off Ace; at least he's fine!"
"Not after I'm done telling him off!"
Practically, Luffy didn't look as if he would be awake anytime soon. Sabo is somewhat glad for that, since if the little toddler found them like this currently, he wouldn't hesitate to laugh at them, bringing more oil to the fire.
Sooner or later (rather later), both of the boys were calm, once again tired through the recent events.
"Stupid, bratty, Luffy, idiotic, fat-head-" And the list goes on as Ace named all the insult he could think of in terms of his brother. Don't worry; this shows that he cares very much for his little brother, which Sabo apparently knew because he was snickering at Ace's way of love.
"I think we all could follow Luffy's example and get some rest. Where did you last put the blankets at?"
"…under the trunk of the tree…"
"…why is it under the trunk of the tree?"
"Because it's safer….?"
Sabo didn't question anymore, not knowing what to think of it and didn't bother thinking of it any deeper, as he just continue down out of the tree house to get their dirtied blankets.
Watching Sabo until he disappear going down to grounds level, Ace then turned to his brother, thinking and rethinking what would be a good prank to level the playing field. Then again… Sabo would totally kill him if so…
Ace slightly jumped as he saw his brother slowly moving, no doubtfully awakening. And he was completely unprepared for the sight that is about to come.
When the toddler had woken up; big sleepy eyes were the first thing to catch the freckled-boy's attention. The little tot then rolled himself without effort to sit up, using his tiny little hand that is only the size of Ace's palm to rub the sleep out of his eyes, sounding out a small yawn. Luffy then noticed his big brother's presences and looked at him with wide, huge happy eyes, smiling and cooing as he lift his arms in request for the older to pick the toddler up.
"As…Ase! Ase…"
Ace eyes widen. Is he… is he doing what he thinks he's doing…?
"Ase….Ase…Asce! Asce! Asce! Asce!"
Well, it isn't exactly how you say it, but it was close enough for even Ace to felt something shooting through his heart. Luffy said his first word…. And it's his name!
There was a tuft of blond hair shown through the floor entrance of the tree house; secretive eyes watching as Ace squealed and practically dotted on his little brother, lovingly hugging the little toddler who looked confused but is not one to turn down affection and repeatedly said his big brother's name.
Sabo couldn't help but snickered quietly to himself. How expected; Ace always was.
He went down to take a walk while the two siblings take their time together. And when he got back, he was presented with a cute site of the two D.'s sleeping together, Luffy in Ace's arms. With a warm smile, he covered them with a blanket before deciding to join them.
Omake: The Secret that Sabo Never Told
There is one secret that Sabo never told to anyone. He wouldn't even say it while alone, for he was afraid that maybe someone would hear it anyway. It was all for the protection of his brothers, honest to heart! Mostly towards Ace, for the boy would be devastated if he found out the little secret that Sabo kept close to his heart?
Do you want to know the secret? Do you?
It was something quite sad, quite distressing. And Sabo promised himself that he would not mention it, even to his grave!
That secret is…..
…..
…..
…..
…..
Ace's name isn't the first word that Luffy had said. No.
The first word that Luffy has learned is-
"Niku! Niku! Niku!" Sabo smiled softly as he continued to cook the meat upon the spit fire.
"Hold on Luffy, I'm almost finished with it."
It seemed that Luffy understood that much and pouted cutely at the fact that his meat isn't ready yet.
Yes, Luffy's first word is meat. And Sabo knows how much it would break Ace's heart when he found that out. Not that the freckled faced boy would admit of course, pride and all.
Me: I absolutely squealed when I wrote this! I mean, really, I wanted to right this for a while! It's just absolutely adorable, Luffy that is. I wish it wasn't that short though.
Don't worry! I'm planning to do several, or more, chapters on this! I always wanted to do something that has to do with a cute Luffy. Especially a toddler cute Luffy!
So don't fret! Chapters will be coming! And I do have a life so maybe sooner or maybe later. Sorry ^^;.
Zoro: *peels the stinky fish off of his face and glares at me*
Me: *whistle ever so innocently*
