"Ready for the party?"


Day 28 & 1/2

December 31st - 1/2 of January 1st


"Hmmm... I dunno, do I look awesome enough?" Luffy asked, turning in his galaxy t-shirt and metallic-silver skinny jeans; with some black and navy DC's. Ace stood back and observed his brother in detail, before retreating to his room to retrieve the final touch..es. Luffy blinked, and then cocked his head as Ace popped back into the hallway while holding something behind his back.

"Close your eyes."

"Mkay...~?"

Ace pulled out a black snapback and pair of sunglasses, and placed them on Luffy's head. Luffy smiled and opened his eyes, looking up at Ace who reviewed him again and gave him a thumbs up.

"And how do I look?" Ace asked Luffy.

Wearing black cargo pants, an orange tank top, neon green shoes with miscellaneous bracelets of sorts, Ace looked like the perfect man.

"Great," Luffy said simply, grabbing Ace's hand tightly, "now c'mon! We don't wanna be too late!"

"Yeah, alright," Ace mumbled with a smirk, trying hard to keep up with an excited boyfriend as they bounded down the stairs, grabbed their coats, and were out the door at exactly 10:00 P.M.

~ Upon arriving just a little fashionably-late at Bartolomeo's house, the two brothers stepped out of Ace's car and into the chilly, clouded night on one of the best New Year's Eves of their life- or, at least what they hoped would be the best New Year's Eves of their life.

The front door was flung open and Bartolomeo stood in the doorway with a big grin on his face to greet them, and he beckoned his two guests of honor into the party that was just started upon the couples' arrival. Luffy and Ace walked up the steps and were intercepted by Bartolomeo's open arms.

"Happy fuckin' birthday, man," Bartolomeo told Ace with a playful smack to his head and an equally joking kiss-on-the-cheek for Luffy. The brothers smirked at their friend's usual antics before being steered down into that dangerous basement party-room once more. It was going to be a wild night, and everyone who was anyone could feel it already.

The music was turned up and the bass made the floor thump, strobe lights were set up on either side of the room, and last but not least, a minifridge full of all sorts of 21+ drinks lining the racks finished up the party room.

At the brothers' entrance into the room, all the guests turned and gave them a cheer, and soon handshakes and claps on the back were ushered throughout the room before Bartolomeo led them in an especially embarrassing birthday song for Ace. Luffy grinned and hugged Ace's arm while they sang happy birthday, and, Luffy gave him a peck on the cheek as they finished; Bartolomeo nearly died of a nosebleed.

"O.K., now we'll be starting the dollar dance; put a dollar down his pants and dance with the birthday boy!" Bartolomeo joked, receiving mixed feelings. While everyone was paying attention to Bartolomeo, Luffy sneakily pulled out a five dollar bill and slid it down the backside of Ace's pants. Ace froze for a second, and then heard Luffy giggle a little at his reaction.

"Come on, he didn't really mean it," Ace told him, "and besides, I haven't even started strutting my stuff, either." Luffy's mouth dropped. Bartolomeo's ears perked like a dog and was soon leaning back to join in the brothers' awkward conversation.

"Now that you mention strutting.." Bartolomeo began, nudging Ace with his elbow suggestively, "since it's your birthday, maybe we should strut for you?" Ace gave him an embarrassed and uncertain look while Luffy glanced between the two.

Bartolomeo coughed into his hand, and then continued in a whisper-voice barely audible above the music, "In other words, I will be possibly getting even more revenge on Kidd and Law.. maybe make them regret everything, if you're catching my drift.." Ace nodded slowly, feeling a little annoyed that those two had even been invited. Ace also fished the bill out of his pants.. Luffy looked confused. Bartolomeo laughed a little and patted Luffy's back before heading upstairs to wait for Kidd and Law's arrival.

"What was he talking about?" Luffy asked Ace as they moved through the crowd to find a good set-up place; in other words, a safe haven for when things got crazy. Upon finding the right spot on the ground in the far corner, next to a coffee table, Ace sat down and beckoned Luffy to sit down next to him. Luffy plopped down next to Ace and immediately let his head fall over onto Ace's shoulder.

"So? What did he mean?" Luffy asked again. Ace just shook his head and put an arm around Luffy's shoulders.

"Just expect the unexpected from Kidd and Law," Ace explained simply, watching as one of the two mentioned people sauntered into the room from upstairs with a drink in his maroon-nailed hand already. Ace wondered what exactly Bartolomeo was hiding up his sleeve, and... "Hey, Luffy, have you seen Zoro?"

Luffy looked up at Ace, blinked, and proceeded to scan the room for short green hair and came up with nothing. Luffy shook his head, and Ace rubbed his chin. At that moment, Ace gently lifted Luffy's head off of his shoulder to stand up, and told Luffy that he was going to go look for Zoro. Luffy looked confused, but nodded anyway, and got up to walk with him to the door. Ace got to the door successfully while Luffy got caught and towed mid-way by a party-goer to dance in their group. Ace looked at Luffy between the other people and smirked, turning to go up the stairs.


"Bartolomeo, have you seen Zoro?" Ace asked, running a hand through his hair. Bartolomeo narrowed his eyes and looked around him, like Zoro would pop up at any time.

"No.. no I haven't.." Bartolomeo stated quietly, rubbing his neck while looking towards the bathroom door, "not since he said he was going to the bathroom. Ahaha, and, you know that's funny? Because Law just came in and went to the bathroom, too." Ace gulped and raised an eyebrow while Bartolomeo looked like he was with-holding a murderous rage.

Ace started to get the same vibe from Bartolomeo as he did after seeing both Zoro and Law punched to pieces at the end of the Christmas party. That was humiliating, most likely, for Zoro. Anddd... Ace being an over-protective older brother as well, he and Bartolomeo both silently agreed on kicking down all doors necessary to keep Zoro's body, at least mainly, covered.

"Are you really, for-sure-positive that he's in there, though?" Ace questioned, getting into door-breaking position. Bartolomeo put his ear to the door, shrugged, and simply walked in, leaving Ace.. rather disappointed, actually.

The bathroom was empty...

"But.. I do have another bathroom.." Bartolomeo noted in all dramatic-seriousness. Ace sighed.

"Yeah, maybe you shoulda thought of that earlier," Ace mumbled as they walked up the stairs, headed towards the bathroom. Bartolomeo laughed a little, and then knocked on the door like a civilized person. No answer. The older brothers looked at each other and then back at the door. The older pushed the door open..

No one. Ace slowly put a hand to his forehead and opened his mouth; "Did it ever occur to you that maybe it was a coincidence?" Bartolomeo looked at Ace, at the bathroom, and then up at Zoro's door.

"No.. but, well, you didn't think of that either!"

"Wow, look who's mature!"

"Bartolomeo?"

The two looked at the foreign voice in annoyance, and soon changed their expressions.

"Zoro?"

Zoro looked up at his brother, and at Ace, wondering why they were upstairs, alone, within close proximity of each other.. outside the bathroom? Bartolomeo turned from Ace and bent down to look Zoro dead in the eye, thinking rapidly of what to say.

"Where's Law?" he finally came up with after an awkward minute of silence and staring, and Zoro raised his eyebrows at that. Zoro pointed down.

"I bumped into him as he was headed towards the basement. He seemed beat up, with a bruise or two, but I don't know what he got into," Zoro said casually, ignoring the fact that he had any sort of relationship with the stalker, despite both other people knowing that he did, "oh, and happy birthday, Ace. Sorry I missed the song."

Ace blushed and shook his head, thanking Zoro and totally forgetting what he was just doing beforehand.

"Oh, and where's Luffy?"

Ace straightened up instinctively. "In the basement. Why?"

Zoro looked a bit nervous and fought for words, "Uh...I don't know, you guys are always together, so.. I was just a little confused...?" Zoro added a shrug for good measure. Ace looked over the shorter one and concluded he was mainly telling the truth, and then he got to thinking about Luffy.. all by himself (yet in a crowd).. with Law. Ace waved and took off down the stairs, skipping steps to get to his lover.

Bartolomeo and Zoro looked at each other, shrugged, and then decided not to watch a giant basement brawl that would most likely ensue between the rivaling parties.

"You know, seeing Law or Kidd getting kicked in the nuts would be kinda funny, though," Zoro admitted, sitting on the top stair. Bartolomeo chuckled and sat down next to him.

"Yeah, it is pretty funny. I've done it.. twice."

"Really? When?"

"Oh.. you know.. both in the past week.."


"Luffy?" Ace called over the music, scanning. There were more people that arrived that Bartolomeo must have invited later, because Ace didn't remember them being on the list; oh well. Meanwhile, behind him..

"Hey Ace."

Ace nearly fell forward when Kidd walked right into his back. Kidd grabbed his arm to keep him from falling and slapped Ace's ass while he wasn't expecting it.

"Gonna be dancing for us tonight?" Kidd asked, letting Ace stand up. Ace just shook his head instinctively, and rubbed a hand tentatively over his butt, not liking the feeling of being smacked there. Ace took a few seconds to look around for Luffy, but was pushed around by Kidd again.

"You said 'no'? Really?"

"Really-really, and.. have you seen Luffy?" Ace asked him half-absentmindedly, not expecting a truthful answer. Kidd looked around over everyone's heads and saw Killer's mop of golden hair. Kidd smirked and pointed in Killer's direction for Ace to see.

"Ah, he's fine.. just taking some dancing lessons," Kidd told him, laughing as he pushed Ace in that general direction.

Ace stumbled and bumped into people but regained his balance right before his face collided with Nami's cleavage, and he laughed sheepishly to her as he skipped away. Nami watched him go around her with an amused look and found what he was going for over there..

Killer had managed to get Luffy dancing. Ace blinked. Luffy seemed to be having fun, and not screaming in some sort of agony like he had originally imagined. Luffy looked over and saw Ace, and he sent him a wave and a grin. Ace waved back, gave Killer a threatening glare, and decided on what to do.


"Decided to visit?"

"Yeah," Ace responded, sitting down on the step below Zoro and Bartolomeo, putting his head in his hand, "Luffy seemed to be having a lot of fun dancing with Killer, so I let him. I didn't want to wipe away that smile."

Zoro and Bartolomeo looked at each other for a second before Bartolomeo decided to speak. "Did you see Law down there?"

"No.. I only saw Kidd and Killer."

"Where in the hell is that kid hiding.." Bartolomeo mumbled, crossing his arms. Zoro shrugged, and Ace only hummed in response.

"I bet he's just messing with your heads," Ace mumbled, leaning his head back against Zoro's shoes, "but, if you really want, I'll go back down to check if I missed him somehow-"

"No."

Ace and Zoro looked up at Bartolomeo, who wore a determined look.

"Let's all go down and enjoy the party and beat down whoever gets in our way," Bartolomeo stated abruptly, standing up to go downstairs. Soon the three men arrived in the basement party-room doorway.

"Ace, Ace- oh, hey Zoro! Guess what!" Luffy chirped, running up to the three newcomers. Ace and Zoro looked at each other, and they both gave guesses.

Ace went first with, "You embarrassed yourself?"

"Kidd face-planted in Nami's cleavage again?"

Bartolomeo, Ace and Luffy both laughed a little bit at that one, for different reasons.

"Good try, but no! Killer just told me that he and Kidd dared each other to pants Law, in elementary school, and whoever did it first won. But whoever lost had to let their hair grow out till they were in college!"

"Woah, really? And Killer the ninja lost?"

"I had no idea.."

"Ah c'mon! You guys didn't know that?" Bartolomeo teased, laughing at the other three. "That's old news to me!"

"That's because you're old, Barto," Zoro told him.

"Rude."

"Hey, Zoro~"

All four of the brothers turned to look at the new voice in the conversation, and Ace was feeling a deja vu moment.

Law walked up to the four brothers with an unwavering cocky-aura that permeated through everything and stung Bartolomeo's eyes, causing him to squint at the new arrival. Luffy shrunk back against Ace's chest, not liking the seductive, enticing look on Law's face. Zoro stood his ground and didn't move a muscle other than to scowl at the man.

"What, have you lost your voice?" Law asked him, stepping closer to be heard better. Zoro sighed and shook his head. Law frowned and went to put a hand on Zoro's chin when the green-haired one the two suddenly reached out and got him in a tight headlock. The other three stared at Zoro who put a shushing-finger over his lips as he dragged a squirming Law out of the room and up the stairs silently.

Bartolomeo had on such a look of half-surprise half-confusion that his eyes were wide but his eyebrows were knit together which made Luffy and Ace laugh more than they expected they would all night. Bartolomeo didn't know what was so funny..

Half an hour later, when the three had jumped into the crowd and danced with the others, having a lot of fun, the door opened again. Only several people near the door noticed the door open, which included Ace, fortunately yet unfortunately.

Zoro was standing in the doorway, holding up an unconscious-looking Law around his shoulders. Ace stared at Law and pushed through to talk to Zoro.

"You.. you went overboard," Ace told him, looking over Law. Law opened his eyes and looked up at Ace in a tired manner, which almost made the observer jump in fright; he thought Law was blacked-out.

Law wasn't wearing a shirt anymore, which worried Ace just a smidge, but his tattooed chest was covered with cuts and bruises, and same with his arms. Law's belt buckle wasn't fastened on all the way, which concerned the brunette even more. Ace took Law out of Zoro's arms and set him on the big maroon chair, after scaring a few girls out of it first.

Ace walked back up to Zoro and pulled him into the stairway, closing the door behind them. The lights and the pale yellow staircase was bright and blinding compared to the basement room, and it took a second for Ace's eyes to adjust enough to stop squinting. Zoro blinked at him, feeling a stray bead of sweat fall down the side of his face, waiting on the step above him for some sort of response, but Ace only leaned against the wall and kept quiet till he figured out something to ask.

Zoro started blushing; he felt like Ace could reach into his mind and pull out his memories, even though he knew that was impossible. What was Ace..

"What'd you do to 'im?" Ace asked quietly, suddenly up in Zoro's face and blushing. Zoro was taken aback and blushed to match Ace, falling on his butt onto a higher step. Ace pretty much kept his nose on Zoro's, waiting. Zoro gulped.

"I.. Well.."

"Zoro, tell me!"

"I-I.. I might've.. Damnit, I raped him, O.K.?" Zoro admitted, rubbing his forehead with his right hand. Ace went wide eyed and stood up, looking down at Zoro with a slightly crazed look. The younger saw his life flash before his eyes, which he closed quickly and covered his face, assuming he was going to be kicked in the face. After a minute, Ace pulled Zoro's arms away, which frightened the younger even more. He nearly kicked at Ace's legs when Ace just sat down next to him, looking calm as could be. It was freaking Zoro out.

"What.. what are you.." Zoro whispered, scooting away towards the wall. Ace gave him a questioning expression. Zoro's thought processing was thrown off; what was going on?

Ace moved down a step and put both his legs on the door, refusing any exits. Zoro was scared.

"You're lucky he has his pride.." Ace said at last. Zoro gulped and rubbed the sweat off his face. He waited for more..

"..Or else he would turn you in," Ace continued, sending his stair-mate a sideways glance.

The sounds of the party that were once deafening were now almost non-existent compared to the roaring silence and throbbing of pulses in both of their ears. Both were pretty terrified. And almost at once, Ace stood up and opened the door. Zoro stood up, not wanting to get his legs caught behind the door, and he shakily peeked his head in the room to watch where his traumatizer was going. It was soon clear when Ace came back carrying Law in his arms.

"Shut the door," Ace told Zoro after he passed him, going up the stairs. Zoro closed it and turned around to watch Ace, who stopped at the top of the stairs and just looked down at Law's face. He was unconscious then.

"Don't let anyone know," Ace told him, "I'm going to patch him up in the upstairs bathroom, give him some medicine and send him on his wa-"

"Why are you doing that?!" Zoro finally let out, looking scared and angry at the same time. It was like looking at an aggravated puppy from Ace's view. Zoro clenched his fists and stayed where he was, leaning his back heavily against the basement door. On second thought, Zoro looked and acted like a kid.. Ace sighed and gave him a lopsided smile which only fed the fire.

"He raped me first, Ace!"

"No he didn't; you consented. The only reason you were torn up was because of your brother, but the reason Law's beat up is because of you," Ace told him matter-of-factly, shifting Law in his arms. "I understand your anger, but this was a little too far."

Zoro swallowed and felt his facial features waver in their expression; he was becoming uncertain of himself. He then realized, only at that moment, that it was nearly Ace's birthday. It was New Year's Eve, at a party. And a party is supposed to be-

Kidd had noticed Law's absence and was actually concerned for once, and he took a hold of the doorknob and twisted it, trying to forced it open. Zoro was shaken out of his daze and saw Ace's expression change from disappointed to abnormally scared. Ace somehow knew it was Kidd. Ace gave Zoro an odd hidden message within a simple blink as he turned and ran up the last few stairs, shutting the top door behind him. He hurried across the house to the other staircase, and once upstairs, he hefted Law through the bathroom doorway. Ace turned and shut the door, locking it quickly with one hand before setting Law down on the closed toilet-lid with relief.

They would be safe there.. hopefully.

Meanwhile, Zoro jumped three steps back and let Kidd burst through the doorway, nearly falling on his face. Kidd righted himself and glared daggers up at Zoro who was still shaken up. He smiled shakily down at the redhead.

"Hi, Kid-"

"Where's Law?" Kidd rumbled, stepping forward and shutting the door with a flick of his wrist. Zoro laughed sheepishly and shook his head, not knowing. Kidd let up his look at noticing how bad Zoro was shaking; what was that about? Zoro didn't shrink that easily, at least not that he thought...

"What's up with you?" Kidd asked, relaxing just a little and looking Zoro over. Zoro shrugged and laughed some more; he was dead. He was going to get it this time.. Why'd he go and do that?!

Kidd took a step up towards Zoro, which made the shorter one scramble backwards up a few more stairs. Kidd knit his eyebrows together and raised his hands up.

"What're you doin'? Don't get sick on me, you hear? 'Cause you're lookin' pale.." Kidd told him, putting his hand on the handrail. Zoro finally gave up and sat down quickly, surprising the redhead, who watched him collapse on himself. Kidd looked around, unsure of what he should do about the younger brother and near-boyfriend of Bartolomeo, who succeeded in kicking him in the nuts twice that week. That wasn't a pleasant thought.. maybe he should try to act like he was helping Zoro, yeah, that would do! Bartolomeo couldn't kick him then!

"Hey, let me just help you get upstairs.. uh, Zoro.." Kidd said quietly, unsure of how to approach the kid. Zoro submitted himself to cruel fate again and let Kidd usher him up the stairs and into the living room. Kidd sat down on a chair diagonal from Zoro, who had sat down on the couch and pulled his knees to his chest. He was going to explode if he didn't say something..

"Kidd.. I did something terrible," Zoro told him. Kidd had the feeling that he was going to be playing the role of a therapist for a while..

"Hey, Bartolomeo? Bartolomeo!" Luffy yelled over the music, pushing his way to said male who just then noticed him over the music and movement.

"Wha-, or hey Luffy! What's up?!"

"I just.. wondered where Ace was!" Luffy told him. Bartolomeo thought in his mind that maybe Ace went to go help the most likely beat-up Law and just grinned, pulling Luffy to his side happily.

"Helping with Law, probably!" was all he said in reply, which Luffy had to settle with. He was still a little concerned, though..

"You what?!" Kidd asked, standing up tall and threatening-like, looming over Zoro who looked really.. weird.

Zoro cracked a smile, "I told you that I raped him, Kidd. Now do what you want to me.. just, get it over with. Kill me while I'm expecting it." Zoro was almost calm looking except for his crazy eyebrows that were bent in and up like he was about to cry, which he wasn't. Kidd narrowed his eyes and let up again at hearing how far-gone Zoro was, mentally. Kidd sighed and sat back down, rubbing his face.

"Guess he kind of deserved it," Kidd droned after a while, resting his chin on his hand; he crossed his long legs, always liking the heavy thud that his boots made against the ground.. Zoro changed expressions to a surprised look. Kidd rolled his eyes.

"He's done a lot of stuff that's he's gotten away with, and we all knew something was bound to happen eventually. Don't beat yourself up about giving him what he asked for," Kidd continued, gradually moving his gaze to reach Zoro's eyes. Zoro was speechless; Kidd just saved his life.

The amazed expression continued for at least a few minutes.

Kidd raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, uncrossing his legs while looking at one certain point in the ceiling, "Want a drink?"

Zoro closed his half-open mouth and nodded profusely. Kidd closed his eyes, grinned and slapped Zoro's knee while standing up to go to the kitchen.

"We might have to be drinking buddies for the night.."

Bartolomeo was starting to get the same uncertain feeling that Luffy had, and after dancing another song, he decided to pull Luffy out of the room with him to find Ace, and Zoro.. and Law and Kidd- He felt more of a caretaker than he usually did..

Some of the party-people started noticing the absences of the main guests and were curious as to what was going on.. however, when Kidd and Law were involved, they preferred to stay out of the entire situation. Meanwhile, Killer was having the time of his life dancing, not really giving a shit as to what his two 'friends' had gotten themselves into.

They both went upstairs, Luffy following with his hand clamped in Bartolomeo's bigger hand. Bartolomeo opened the top door and saw the thing he thought he'd never see.

Zoro and Kidd were sitting at the dining table drinking beer and laughing together. Bartolomeo nearly froze in the doorway, which stopped Luffy from seeing the two until he forcibly bent Bartolomeo's arm and got up next to him. Luffy blinked at Zoro, who had cheeks as red as Kidd's hair and was nearly falling off his chair. Although, after looking next-door at Kidd, Luffy decided that they seemed pretty similar. The two sober ones sighed.

"Hey.. hey Zoro?" Bartolomeo asked him, letting go of Luffy's hand and walking half-way to the table. Zoro hiccupped and looked up at Bartolomeo. He then blinked, giving Bartolomeo half of his attention.

"Where'd Ace go?"

Zoro rolled his head around for a second and took another sip of his bottle of Modelo Negra and thought hard about the question. After a moment he pointed upward. Bartolomeo followed his finger as if Ace might be suspended from the ceiling. Kidd giggled, which sounded more like a rumble, and ran a hand through his hair, leaning back.

Luffy gave the drunks a pitying look and just shook his head. He left Bartolomeo behind and went upstairs first, only getting up five stairs before being tugged down again by Bartolomeo. Luffy blinked down at Bartolomeo who just shook his head and pulled him back.

"What? Isn't Ace up there?" Luffy asked him. Bartolomeo put a hand on Luffy's head and pulled him to his side and nodded. Luffy then gave him a attitude-filled glare.

"Then why aren't you letting me..?"

"Ace is tending to Law's wounds in the bathroom, so says Zoro," Bartolomeo told Luffy. Luffy nodded slowly and then crinkled his nose in annoyance. He pushed away from Bartolomeo and grumpily sat at the head of the table across from Kidd.

"Why don't you go and do it for Ace.. it's Ace's birthday, and he should be down here," Luffy muttered to Bartolomeo. Zoro heard Luffy and he turned towards him, scratching his chest. He looked up at Bartolomeo and had a lucid thought through his drunkenness.

"You don't wanna.. do that," Zoro told Bartolomeo. Bartolomeo drilled a glare through Zoro's brain for being drunk at a time like that and then sighed, sitting down next to Luffy.

"...Want some?" Kidd asked Bartolomeo, offering his third half-full bottle of Budweiser to Bartolomeo, who looked longingly at the thing and then sighed. He put his hand on the table and reached down, taking the bottle and taking a slug of it before sending it back down to Kidd.

"Thanks.." Bartolomeo told him, not sure whether the message would get through the redhead's mind; it did, kind of, because Kidd half-nodded and blinked in response.

By about 10 minutes after Bartolomeo had taken that drink, Luffy and Ace were the only ones without any alcohol in their system.

Meanwhile, Law was awake and groaning about every single bruise and cut he had received, making Ace quite annoyed.

"Just hold your tongue, would ya?" Ace mumbled, gently lathering all the cuts with rubbing alcohol, making Law hiss, before putting a hydrating antibacterial cream on it and topping it off with a Band-Aid. Law was still sitting on top of the toilet with his pants down, because he was complaining about stinging on his thighs.

'At least he's even letting me do this..' Ace thought to himself while surveying nail marks on Law's thighs. 'Zoro sure shredded him up..'

"My ass hurts.." Law muttered, folding his arms across his patched-up chest. Ace rolled his eyes and felt very odd rubbing Law's thighs with the clean rag and alcohol. Law winced.

"What do you suppose I can do about your ass.." Ace asked him in monotone. Law sighed and rubbed his neck; he was cold in his underwear..

"I don't know, isn't there like.. some sort of-"

"You can't be serious," Ace asked him, sitting back on his heels. Law blinked at him and shrugged.

"I am! There has to be some sort of medicated ointment, you know, for like.. uhh.."

"..."

"Like, diaper rash, you know?"

Ace facepalmed, wanting to hear no further words out of the tattooed-one's mouth. Unfortunately, it couldn't be done.

"You heard me! My ass hurts, and if there's somethin' to ease up the pain, I'll take it!" Law told him straight out, looking very determined for a man sitting on the toilet in his underpants being bandaged up by another man.

The freckled one pushed out his lips and thought about it, pressing hard with one finger on a bruise on Law's hip.

"Ow, damnit!" Law cussed, putting a hand to his hip. Ace merely shrugged casually and rolled his eyes again. "Why are you even doing this? I would've done this wh-"

The light in the bathroom flickered, distracting Law from his lecture. Law looked up at the light bulb, waiting for it to do something else, and when he looked back down at Ace, the thing blinked again. Ace smirked. He stood up and then sat on the edge of the bathtub, looking directly at Law's face. Law scowled across at him, not knowing what to do.

Law opened his mouth, closing his eyes momentarily when he was interrupted.

"Don't tell me-" Ace interjected, grinning, "your ass hurts."

Law felt his face heat up unexpectedly. It just then occurred to him that Ace knew what happened to him. Law was.. he was... he felt his man-pride crack.

"Ahhh.. damnit, Ace.. he told me that he was playing it off as he was going to beat me up, you know, to cover you guys' suspicions, and then he got me all-"

Ace put his hands to his ears, "Speak no further. I do no wish to hear this." Law growled at him and he roughly pulled Ace's hands off his ears. Ace blinked with Law holding his wrists in a death grip.

"Well you're going to hear this, because I have to have someone know my pain," Law whispered, boring holes in Ace's eyes. Ace nodded, letting Law whisper his dreadful story to him. When he was done, Law let go of Ace's wrists and rubbed his face with his hands. Ace narrowed his eyes; too many images to handle... too many of them- Law was too vivid of a story teller.

"So now you know," Law finished.

"You're telling me that he beat you up while he was still in you?" Ace asked. Law sighed and nodded.

"At first, yeah. And damnit, he didn't even get his pants off all the way.. actin' all cool.."

The two fell into an awkward silence. Law rested his chin on his propped-up arms. Ace did the same thing as him, nearly touching noses. The two just sat there, staring into each other's mind like it was a totally normal thing to do.

"What's going through your brain.." they both mumbled at once. They both smirked and laughed a little.

"Put on your pants.. let's go get you a bottle of somethin'," Ace told him, holding Law up by his arm so he could button, zip and buckle his pants. He could stand and walk, but, in an awkward way that made Ace nearly laugh. Law glared at him.

Law then realized another thing; he had.. put a camera.. in Zoro's room..

He paled and turned around, and quickly lifted up the toilet seat to vomit. Ace went wide-eyed and panicked, not knowing what happened. Ace held his own mouth, not particularly being good around people getting sick.

Law felt terrible; he was going to have to watch and listen to himself get raped.. there was footage of it! Of course, he couldn't tell this to Ace. That would get him beat up again, and he was certainly smart enough to avoid it this time.

Ace grabbed the nearest washcloth and turned on the faucet; he drenched the cloth and then rung it out just a bit before handing it down to Law for him to wipe his mouth. Law grabbed at it blindly and rubbed at his jaw.

"Sorry.." Law mumbled, standing up wobbly as he flushed the toilet. Ace just shook his head, afraid to open his mouth before he was out of the room. Law rinsed the cloth off in the sink and kept on shaking his head at himself in the mirror; he was so pitiful sometimes. Law washed his hands, hung the cloth back up somewhere random and grabbed Ace's arm to help him get used to walking. Ace opened the bathroom door and took in the fresh air, turning off the light behind him. Law wondered what Zoro was doing...

The two managed to sort of hobble down the stairs and to the drunk-table, where Law stood for a second and gave everyone sort of a helpless smile. He got no reactions other than glares and a giggle or two from Kidd, which was the most frustrating thing Law could have asked for; for his friend to be drunk right then. Law shook his head and walked over to the living room couch. He looked down at it and then just fell over onto it, completely horizontal.

He groaned under his breath till Ace brought him a bud light and sat down next to him, just silently making sure Law was O.K. but feeling the regret of many things.

Luffy came and sat down on Ace's lap, asking over and over to come back down to the party. Ace was afraid to leave Law upstairs for some reason, around two very drunk teenagers that might unintentionally hurt him even more. Luffy looked over at Law who was sitting upright in an odd way to avoid the most pain. Law took a small sip from his bottle, staring endlessly out the giant windows. He shivered just looking at the snow that was falling outside.

"Law?"

Law looked over at Luffy with a blank expression. Luffy coughed and redirected his gaze to the floor.

"Where'd your shirt go?"

The two older ones were silent, thinking. Ace had a very unreal back-up line if needed.. but it wasn't.

"I don't remember," Law said monotonously. Luffy looked confused, but he didn't want to question that empty-looking face anything else, for fear of further ruining the mood; whatever mood was still left. Ace sighed, patting Law's shoulder gently.

"Hold on, I'll be right back," Ace said, getting off the couch. Luffy stood up and watched Ace walk over to the hall closet and look around, and meanwhile Law looked Luffy over; not in a perverted way, just curiously, with his dead-looking eyes. Luffy was uncomfortable, that much was obvious. Law scooted over about a foot and patted the couch with his right hand, waiting for Luffy to sit down. It took a while, but Luffy did eventually sit down next to him; when Ace came back shirtless and carrying Law's coat.

Ace pushed Law's back forward and slipped the orange tank top over Law's head and slung his coat around his shoulders, too. Law looked at the collar of the coat and was immediately much warmer; he looked up at Ace. Ace flicked Law's forehead and just smirked at him for a minute. Law smiled back pitifully.

"Thanks.."

"Yeah, yeah."


The three couch-dwellers were soon talking casually, wrapped up in blankets, drinking whatever while a fire burned in the fireplace diagonal from them, courtesy of Bartolomeo, who felt the need to stay out of Law's presence for some reason. Plus, he didn't want to leave the drunkards unattended.. he turned down the lights for a relaxing atmosphere before the eruption at midnight.

The music made the floor thump still, which was almost giving Law and the drunk ones headaches, but Law took a few advil and it went away after a while. Ace looked up at the clock on the right. It said 11:42 PM. Ace sighed, running his right hand through Luffy's hair; Luffy had decided earlier that he wanted Ace to be in between him and Law. Law had no problems with that.

"It's gettin' there.." Law said suddenly. Ace smirked and nodded; Luffy was almost asleep against his shoulder, since Ace didn't want to leave or for him to leave.

Law's bottle had been long empty, but he didn't want to get that drunk.. in other words, he didn't want to throw up anymore. He just sat there, slumping farther and farther down until Ace grabbed him and pulled him up again, arranging Law's legs bent over the armrest and his head on Ace's left thigh. Law had his eyes closed for a while, contemplating life.. he opened his eyes and saw Ace looking right down at him. Law felt his face heat up and he didn't know why. Ace smirked.

"What..?" Ace asked him, patting Law's cheek with his free hand. Ace laughed a little. The wounded one merely pouted and looked at the fire, flickering tongues of flame out and about, creating a never-ending art show for those who didn't mind going blind. Law blinked and looked back up at Ace.

Luffy's breathing evened out as he fell asleep on Ace. Law bent his head back to look up at Luffy, who looked not so scared of him anymore, obviously. Ace rested Luffy back against the couch and smiled, giving him a peck on the cheek. Law smiled too for some reason; he guessed that it was just kind of.. cute.. and sweet.

"Feel lucky; he left your face and head completely untouched," Ace told Law after a silent minute. Law blinked; he hadn't realized that. Law put a hand to his face and just kind of kept it there randomly. Ace looked off while sipping a cup of hot coco he had made for himself, watching the soft snowflakes flutter in the light wind across the sky. Ace smirked, putting his cup back on the table.

Law had closed his eyes for a moment with his hand still on his face, and when he felt Ace lean over, he got a nice view of Ace's abs and chest, which he noted were more developed than Zoro's, even. Law then corrected himself; Ace was Ace. Ace had a boyfriend, which was his brother, who was asleep a foot away from him. But still.. Law blushed.

"You know.. you're really hot," Law told Ace. Ace looked down at him and went to pull the blanket off of Law's body, assuming that Law meant he was overheating. Law smiled and put his arm over the blanket, keeping it in place. Ace raised an eyebrow and the caught on.. he rubbed his neck. He didn't know how to take that.

"I mean really.. how many girls came up to you and asked you out, Ace? How many in your life?" Law asked, grinning up at Ace who just took it all in silently and tried to actually think of a number; he lost track.

"Ah, I don't know.." Ace responded quietly, looking over at Luffy. He smiled.

"At least a hundred.." Law mumbled, putting a number out there, "no, there's more girls than that in our high school.. probably like, 300!"

"Oh, the flattery," Ace told him, poking Law's chest. Law laughed.

"The first person I said 'yes' to threw up when I told them that I loved them," the most upright of the three said with a smirk. He laughed when he saw the look on Law's face. Law was shocked.

The room went silent except for Ace's laughter, the flickering and snapping of the flames and the ticking of the clock. Ace grinned and looked up at the clock, remembering how awkward it was, hunting down Luffy in the bathroom not more than a month earlier..

Law imagined a stuck-up girl who just was 'too good' for Ace, and pretended to throw up, walking away with her friends laughing at Ace's face. Wait, no, Law rethought about it.. Ace had said 'love', not just 'like'. Law wondered.. He opened his mouth and was about to ask when Ace pointed to Luffy with his thumb. It was Luffy?!

Ace then relayed the story to Law; why? He felt like since Law gave him his story, he should give him something back a story in return. By the end of it, Law's face was red and he felt like he had learned too much about the two for his own good. Law looked away for a moment, processing, and then looked back at Luffy. Luffy was still sound asleep with his left hand limply resting on Ace's side. Law gulped and unknowingly fell into a daze staring at Ace's shoulder..

The brunette slowly let his head slide to meet with Law's gaze and when Law finally realized what he had been doing, Ace was staring right back at him. Law blinked and put a hand over his face, rubbing the blush off as best as he could manage.

Ace looked away for just a moment, glancing back up at the clock. It read 11:58 and 43 seconds. Ace bit the inside of his cheek, looking over at Luffy; he couldn't wake him up.. he just couldn't interrupt that angelic expression. Law watched him, knowing what he was thinking..

The flames flickered.. Law pushed the blanket off of his body; he really was getting too hot.

Ace put his arm around Luffy's shoulder, thinking about how weird the night had ended up; oh well. It wasn't too terrible, at least.. no one was crying or feeling terrible anymore.

11:59 and 15 seconds.

Ace and Law both looked up, watching the clock..

They both went over their list of New Year's Resolutions, wondering which ones they would actually go through with and which ones they'd forget about..

11:59 and 33 seconds.

Ace tapped his right foot, wanting so badly for Luffy to just wake up out of no where; it didn't happen. Law was battling heartbeat problems, making him even more hot. He arched his back and slipped off his coat..

11:59 and 48 seconds.

Ace smiled a little forlornly in disappointment, settling his foot when he heard the countdown start in the basement. Bartolomeo and the drunks had made their way down minutes before-hand, and there was no hollering upstairs.

"Ten.." Law whispered in unison with Ace. They looked away, counting in their heads from that point. Law's pulse was fast, and he swore that it was beating three times per nerve-racking second.

"Five," Ace continued, smirking down at the empty mug on the table.

"Four, three-!" the voices chanted below. Law rubbed his forehead.

"Two-!"

"One," Ace stated with a grin; Law sat up suddenly as he heard the basement go wild. He reached and grabbed Ace's head quickly, pulling him in for a messy kiss. Law's heart nearly burst open.

Ace didn't know what to do. It all happened so quickly! He took his arm off of Luffy's shoulders and hesitantly put his hand against Law's shoulder..

Law didn't know what to do either! He just.. he just did it! Impulsive, too impulsive!

The few seconds that they kissed seemed like an eternity, and when Law let the other pull away, Ace looked so conflicted inside that it was kind of funny. Law's lips twitched into a grin and he let out a laugh, pulling Ace back for another kiss. Ace constantly told himself that Law was just Luffy's proxy; his replacement. Law was just.. yeah, filling in for Luffy at that moment! That was it!

"Happy New Year!" Law told him afterwards, blushing like an idiot. Ace laughed and felt the same way. "And happy birthday."

Ace just sat there with a weird smile on his face, and he nodded, breaking into a grin. It was indeed his birthday..

All of a sudden, a minute after the New Year came, people started bubbling up from the basement and into the living room, bringing the party upstairs for Ace. Everyone who was there was soon all over Ace, and he didn't know how many hugs and kisses on the cheek he got that night. Law was soon 'forgotten', or so Law thought to himself as Ace woke up Luffy and gave him a kiss. Luffy was so flustered over sleeping through the turning of the year that it seemed to Law that he was attempting to make up for it with tongue..

Law looked away and crossed his legs, wincing in slight pain in the process; damned nail marks..

"Hey, happy birthday, Ace! Oh, where'd your shirt go?"

Law grabbed his coat and zipped it up over the shirt before the person noticed; he prayed to God that Ace played dumb.. Ace was quiet a moment. Law gulped. Ace just shook his head, looking off in the distance.

"I don't remember.."

The navy-haired one facepalmed and laughed, and tried desperately to stifle it when Ace looked over at him and winked. Luffy gave Law a glare, too.. Ace sighed and put a hand over Luffy's face and just kept it there, making Luffy squirm and wriggle to get his hand off. Ace gave Law a thumbs up and laughed, making Law blush.

"Ace, ahh, stoooop.." Luffy mumbled, finally biting Ace's hand till he let go. Ace laughed at Luffy's annoyed expression and then gave him a kiss in apology.

"So moody today; it's unlike you," Ace told him. Luffy just crossed his arms and looked away.

"Yeah? Well, you're the one being all nice to the bad guys," Luffy retorted, referring to Law as one of 'the bad guys'. Ace rolled his eyes and stood up, pulling Luffy up after him. Luffy blinked and tried to get Ace to see what he was talking about, but the birthday boy would have no more lectures that night, no no..

Bartolomeo soon rolled up and sat down on the arm of the couch, looking up at the brothers with a grin. Ace blinked down at him while Luffy was trying to pry Ace's hands off his wrists. Bartolomeo whistled, getting Luffy's attention.

"Feisty tonight, ain't ya?" Bartolomeo told him, threatening to spank Luffy's ass jokingly. Luffy stepped away, blushing profusely. Ace laughed and let go of Luffy's arms.

"Come on, Luffy! Get over it and have some fun, would you please?" Ace told him with a grin, playfully hitting Luffy's shoulder. Luffy groaned a little and shuffled his feet.. Ace flicked Luffy's/his snapback off his head and snatched his sunglasses off his face. Luffy looked up and then whirled around to pick up his hat, but to his dismay, Ace had picked it up with his foot already. Luffy went for Ace's foot then, but Ace tossed the hat up into the air and caught it with his hand, putting it on his own head. He slid the sunglasses onto his own face and gave Luffy a smirk before switching to a blank expression.

"You don't deserve the shadesss-ah~" Ace flipped his hair as he turned and grabbed Bartolomeo's arm, walking off to dance with him. As Ace was walking away, leaving Luffy gaping in a frozen dropped-jaw state, he turned his head around and lifted his glasses up to send his brother a wink. Luffy closed his mouth and growled.

"Aceeee.. that was the gayest thing you've ever done!" Luffy yelled, running after him. Ace turned his head again.

"Oh really? Funny, because-"

Luffy jumped on his back, catching Ace in an awkward choke-hold.

Law watched the entire thing go down and couldn't stop laughing. He was in a better mood and wanted another beer.. and right as he said this, Kidd and Zoro sat down on either side of him, bringing him offerings of many alcoholic beverages which were half-empty already..

Law sighed with a smirk, 'Damnit.. I let him get away too soon..'

Bartolomeo was laughing hard at Luffy's attempts at subduing Ace's spirit, but he wasn't getting far, and Ace pulled Luffy's arms off his neck easily and held Luffy on his back by just the boy's wrists. Luffy kicked and tried to get back down, but when Ace started kissing his hands, he couldn't help but wrap his legs around Ace's waist and give in.

"Happy new year, Luffy~" Ace told him, smiling happily. Luffy rolled his eyes and smirked, taking the hat and glasses off Ace before kissing Ace's cheek.

"Happy new year, Ace, and happy birthday."

"Thank you, beautiful. Now how 'bout you do your sweet boyfriend a favor and stop being so difficult, hmm? You won't regret your decision if you do," Ace suggested in a smooth, gentleman-like tone. Luffy giggled and nodded; how could he possibly say no to that kind of voice? Ace nodded, too, and let Luffy down softly. He turned to Luffy and stuck his hand out to Luffy with his other arm behind his back. Luffy looked down at the extended hand- Ace was wearing his ring. Luffy set down the hat and glasses on the nearby dining table and Luffy took Ace's hand in his own.

Luffy flipped Ace's hand over, pulled off the ring and looked at it with a smirk. He read his own name on it, grinned, and put it back on Ace's finger with a pat.

Ace smiled, looking down at Luffy and raised up his brother's ring-hand to kiss the metal band around his finger. Ace looked up at Luffy and winked. Luffy blushed and put his arms around Ace's chest tightly. Ace wrapped his arms around Luffy's body in response and rocked back and forth to an inaudible, peaceful song. Luffy nestled his head under Ace's chin and smiled.

"I love you, Ace," Luffy told him softly. Ace rubbed Luffy's back and hugged him close, laughing. Luffy looked up at him, confused. Ace just laughed and ignored the look, pressing his lips onto Luffy's forehead.

"I love you so much, Luffy. I'm so lucky," Ace told him, looking dreamily down at his boyfriend with rosy cheeks and a handsome smile.

Bartolomeo stepped back, giving the two space..

Luffy grinned and put his head back against Ace's chest, "How much do you love me?"

Ace looked around and thought about it, humming with a smile. "So much that I would sing for you everyday." Luffy laughed and laughed.

"Go on~" Luffy told him. Luffy expected to get no response but a kiss or something, but Ace continued.

"So much that I would give you my coat and carry you all the way home, right now, with no shirt on," Ace told him, giggling with Luffy at the image. Luffy bit his lip and wanted to go on, so he did. He asked Ace again.

"Sorry to get so serious, but Luffy, I love you so much that I would give my life up for yours," Ace told him, getting a little watery-eyed. Luffy looked up at Ace and gave him a pitying smile. Ace laughed and rubbed his eyes.

"And enough to cry right in front of everyone- on your birthday," Luffy added. Ace laughed and hugged him tightly.

"Gosh, I love you," Ace whispered. Luffy just hummed in response and tapped his fingers on Ace's back.

Law had been watching again, leaning over the back of the couch. He sighed and shook his head with a smirk. He took a sip from his bottle, beating himself up.. "Law, you were stupid to think that you'd get him.."

"Who ya talkin' to?" Zoro asked him, throwing his arm around Law's back. Law sighed again; Zoro was too drunk to remember anything he had done before that moment. Kidd fell asleep sideways in the chair next to him, which wasn't good.. Law pushed Zoro's arm off and he made Kidd sit up again. Kidd barely even noticed the motion and just smirked at Law before falling back asleep upright.

"Yeah, don't thank me for getting off my sore ass to save you from choking on your vomit when you get a hangover during your dreams," Law told him, obviously not expecting an answer. He shook his head and wobbled over to the back of the couch; he held onto the back, looking around the room at all the people who had come upstairs. He saw Killer and just stared at him; he stared at the blond until Killer somehow detected it and looked his way. Law frowned at him and beckoned him to come over. The blond looked around at the girls he had been dancing with and then sighed, walking over to Law.

"What's up with you?" Killer asked him, looking him over. Law shook his head and leaned against Killer's side instead of the couch. Killer stood there, waiting for something..

"You know.. something stupid happened," Law told him, watching Ace and Luffy with a far off look, "you'll see later.. but first, I need you to go up to Zoro's room in the attic and take down the camera."

Killer narrowed his eyes at him. "Why? Did Bartolomeo break it?"

Law scoffed, becoming impatient, "You'll see later!" His torment didn't end there, though.

"Why can't you get it?" Killer asked him, folding his arms over his chest. Law facepalmed and growled under his breath.

"I got screwed up the ass and I can barely move, damnit! Now go get the fucking camera before this cripple makes your life a whole lot worse," Law hissed into his ear. Killer went red and Law pushed him away before he could say anything. Killer looked back, looking over Law with a 'whoa..' look. Law waved him away and sat back on the arm of the couch. He was so tired of telling everyone.. everyone being two people. Two people to him was enough to amount to everyone.

"You don't look so hot."

Law looked up.

Kidd was standing now, smirking down at him. His cheeks were still red.

"You do, though," Law told him, meaning temperature that time. Kidd laughed down at the floor and put his hands in his pockets. Law smirked.

"You acted drunk all that time?" Law asked. Kidd shrugged, looking over at Zoro on the couch.

"Just until he was out of his right mind," Kidd replied, "don't get me wrong, I drank a lot and I feel a little out of it. He's completely gone, though."

He was sure right about that; Zoro was asleep and dreaming about banging Law. Law sighed. Kidd stepped towards Law and put his forehead to his friend's. Law was cornered; he waited for Kidd to do whatever he wanted to do. Kidd just stared at Law's eyes endlessly, sometimes flickering his eyes to look down Law's coat. Law put his hands to try and maybe put some distance between them but it didn't work; Kidd always stood his ground.

"What're you doing?" Law asked him, frowning. Kidd closed his eyes and butted his head against Law's. Law almost fell backwards if not for Kidd's arm holding him up. Law winced and glared at him.

"You're a retard.." Kidd told him. Law blinked as Kidd continued. "Yeah, I have no sympathy for whatever pain you have." Law glared again.

"So you know?"

"Yeah.. grass-head there would've probably done somethin' to himself if he didn't spill it to me. I set someone straight for once," Kidd informed Law, stepping back. He hooked his thumbs inside his pockets and looked at the snow.

"I might go outside for a minute," Kidd mumbled, wiping the sweat off his head, "I'm burning up."

"Come back inside soon, though," his friend told him as he turned to leave. Kidd turned back and looked Law over. "You might not realize that you're getting frostbitten."

Kidd rolled his eyes and smirked, "Yeah. Thanks." He turned and walked to the door, opening it up a crack. He sighed and closed his eyes for a second.

'Don't throw up, Kidd.. don't fucking throw up..'

He stepped through the doorway and closed the door with a click behind him. He leaned his back against the cold door and looked up at the grey, blanketing clouds in the sky. He ran his hands over his face, stopping his fingers at his lips. He took away his hands; no lipstick.

"Damnit, Zoro.. people will think you're lips are bruised or somethin'," Kidd mumbled to himself. He grinned. "He's gettin' all the guys."

Law had made his way to the door, too, but leaned his back to the inside, letting his head rest against it. He heard Kidd's low voice mumble, and he knew what happened.

Brothers- they're a dangerous species.

Zoro was passed out on the couch.

Bartolomeo was in a tussle with Killer over the camera upstairs.

Luffy was glued to Ace's bare chest.

Ace had his tongue in Luffy's mouth.

Law sighed.

Kidd closed his eyes.

The two turned and opened the door at the same time, not even surprised. Law ushered Kidd in and closed the door, walking as normally as possible behind Kidd. He followed the redhead to the stairs, going up and up, pulling down the ladder. Killer ducked under a punch and flicked his vision to the ladder. Bartolomeo froze; who was..?

Kidd grinned.

Bartolomeo raised up his hands and gave up; he didn't want to die that night. Though as Kidd walked up and snatched the camera from his hand, Bartolomeo did land a nice kick to the crotch again.

Ace bit Luffy's tongue on accident when he heard a thud upstairs. Luffy yelped and grabbed at his tongue while Ace looked upwards. He gave Luffy an apologetic smile and then tugged Luffy upstairs with him to see the action.

The two brothers watched Kidd wrestle Bartolomeo onto the floor and hold him in a nice position, kneeling onto the older-one's back. Bartolomeo was still laughing!

"Hey Ace!" Bartolomeo called out, grinning as Kidd tried bending his arms back even further; no reaction. "How ya doin'?"

"Good.." Ace mumbled, pointing to Bartolomeo's arms, "but, how are you doin'?"

Bartolomeo attempted a shrug but only rolled the muscle over his ribs, finally getting a wince out of him. Kidd thought he might've broken a bone, hearing the weird crunching sound, and he quickly jumped off of Bartolomeo, looking a little frantic. Killer and Law looked at the two, wondering what happened. Bartolomeo sat up and rubbed his chest. He pulled off his shirt and pressed around some points, wincing with a grin.

"That'll be bruised in the mornin'," he mumbled. Kidd sweatdropped.. Law shook his head, knowing something was seriously wrong with these brothers.

"You're talking about bruises.." Law muttered, lifting up his coat and shirt, showing off his own battles scars. They all shook their heads..

"So, why...?" Luffy started asking Kidd, who looked at him with a blank face. Kidd looked back at Law. Law cracked his neck and sighed.

"You came up here swingin' at him when you didn't know what for?" Law asked him. Kidd rubbed his face and laughed with a shrug. Ace and Luffy just stared..

"I heard Bartolomeo tauntin' Killer from outside and I couldn't stand that, so I came up here to settle it, whatever 'it' was. I realized that 'it' was this thing-"

Killer jumped out and distracted the brothers with his flowing hair while he grabbed the camera from Kidd, right up in his face. Kidd reeled back. Killer kissed his cheek and patted his face, jumping back next to Law in a second; the camera had vanished.. into his pants.

Kidd stood there motionless before looking at Killer who seemed completely unchanged. He looked for the camera but couldn't find it.. Law was looking up at Killer like he was some sort of god.

"Well this was a waste," Ace said out loud, steering Luffy back to the ladder, "we're going to go and tongue-fuck some more, if you don't min-"

Luffy jabbed him in the gut with his elbow. Ace gasped and held it in, slowly letting it out in a hiss. Luffy's eye twitched.

"Why d'ya have to call it that?!" Luffy pouted, getting all in Ace's face. Ace laughed and picked Luffy up over his shoulder, pointing to the ladder while everyone was blushing.

"Moody again, eh? Maybe we should stay up here and you all go downstairs, hmm?" Ace suggested in a commanding manner, quite pleased when everyone took up his offer. Bartolomeo put up the ladder when he got down, turning to everyone else in the group. They stood there, debating what to say or where to go; all in their minds. The eldest made the final decision and they all sat down right there in the hallway, listening to the sweet sounds of 'punishment' that floated down to their ears.

"Nn.. Ace- damnit, ahhh!"

The boys were all in and out of the bathroom..

Yeah, it was a good start to the year for Ace.


Zoro snored away on the couch.. he would have a lot of catching up to do in the morning.


~ + THERE. YOU HAPPY NOW? XD dang.. 6 months of no-updating this story. I hope you're all proud of me for even bringing this heirloom back to life! XD now, in all honesty, don't let me go another six months without an update to this thing. That was unprofessional and uncalled for, and all I can do is write more and ask for you to forgive me XD so there. Happy 6 months, 12 days, 2 hours and 48 minute-belated New Year! 2014! YEAAAHH! XD lol.. p.s don't you just love how every guy in my stories can just magically become gay instantly? its like magic.. XD + ~