Warnings/Note: It... took me longer to get this out than I thought it would. Well, it would have helped if I actually... you know... started writing it before last night. But yeah, here's some fluff.

Ages: Ace - 10 and 22 / Luffy - 7 and 19

CHAPTER 7: Home Remedies

Luffy always got sick really easily for reasons he wasn't too sure of. Makino said that there was a lot to it, but that basically he was really weak to invisible monsters so he got sick really often.

His eyes had grown wide and he felt kind of scared. He didn't want to be attacked by monsters! Luffy told Makino this and that he wasn't going to let the monsters hurt him anymore.

When he said that, Makino smiled at him fondly, but also kind of sad before it disappeared when Shanks came into the room with ice cream for the three of them.

Shivering, Luffy burrows into the blankets further, coughing roughly.

He had woken up feeling really, really bad and he couldn't tell Makino and Shanks about it, because they were away for the weekend, but he was staying with Ace and his mom so at least he had someone to see.

Once he went to her, Rouge had put a cold hand that felt really, really good against his head.

She made a concerned sound and said "Sweetheart, you're burning up," before she scooped him up quickly into her arms and next thing he knew, Luffy was back in the guest room.

Rouge placed him back on the bed; pulling the covers over him with one hand and running the other through his hair soothingly.

She tells him to rest and that she'll be back in a few minutes.

Luffy groans and holds the blankets closer to him.

"Luffy?" the voice sounds faraway, but still familiar. Luffy looks up and Ace is standing at the corner of the bed, causing Luffy to jump a little because when did he get there? "Are you okay?"

"No," Luffy whimpers and Ace's eyebrows furrow.

"I...I'll go get mom."

"She knows." He says quietly, not wanting to be alone.

"Oh..." Ace looks lost for words. "Are you…sick?"

"Mmm. Monsters… Want em to go away…"

The boy who had become one of his best friends quickly in the past year arches an eyebrow. "Okay… So, you have to beat them up?

Luffy laughs a little because someone finally agrees with him, but he ends up coughing a lot because of it and it hurts.

Ace looks like he doesn't know what to do, but he helps Luffy sit up and the younger boy coughs until his throat hurts much more than before.

He slowly lays back down and yawns, wanting to sleep. Ace sees this, but he doesn't leave.

Instead, the ten year old looks behind him and reaches for one of Luffy's hands, his cheeks flushing slightly. Luffy's fingers twitch slightly as Ace holds his hand and rubs small circles into the back of his hand.

As he falls asleep, Luffy can't help but think that; with Ace with him, he can't help but feel a little better already.

Ace makes sure that he's extra quiet as he walks into his and Luffy's room in case the younger man is sleeping. He's holding a tray that has a bowl of soup and a piece of toast on it.

The man walks to the edge of their king sized bed and peers down at his boyfriend who is still asleep, but not for long. Ace places the tray on the nightstand and leans down onto the bed.

He feels a little guilty because Luffy looks like he's having peaceful for the first time in days, but he places a gentle hand on his boyfriend's shoulder and ruses him out of his slumber.

Midnight blue open, looking dazed, and slowly he finds Ace, who is smiling up at him softly.

"Ace?" Luffy says, voice quiet and hoarse. Speaking alone seems to take a lot of effort and he looks like he'll fall back asleep at any moment. But he doesn't because his face contorts and he sneezes, the force so strong making him sit up. He sneezes a few more times before he starts to cough.

Ace grimaces and rubs circles in between Luffy's shoulder blades as violent coughs rack the younger man's body. When the coughing fit subsides, the nineteen year old leans against him and groans into his neck.

"You can go back to sleep soon Lu, but you gotta eat something, okay?"

Luffy shifts and looks up at him with with an expression that is close to his puppy dog eyes. "'M not hungry… Wanna sleep."

Ace brings up his hand and rubs his hand against the back of Luffy's clammy neck. He can feel Luffy shaking against him, telling him that he still has the chills. Ace carefully pushes Luffy back into the bed and tucks him in.

"Just a little, Luffy? For me?"

Luffy shook his head a little, but hissed. "Can't… Don't feel good."

"You're sick; this will make you feel better."

"No… Sleep. Eat it later…" Ace can already tell that Luffy is starting to fall asleep again and sighs.

"Okay, Lu. Go back to sleep, if you need me I'll be-"

Luffy weakly grabs onto Ace's wrist, meeting his eyes. "No. Stay with me…"

Ace gives in the moment those eyes met his. Not caring if the other is sick, he lays down on top of the blanket and puts a protective arm around Luffy, who snuggles in as close as he can.

Just before Luffy falls asleep, he slowly mumbles, "Ace makes me feel even better."

Ace cannot help the fond smile that unfurls on his lips and the last thing Luffy registers before he falls asleep is the feeling of familiar lips being pressed to his forehead.

Note: Thanks for all of the responses last time guys! I will probably write all of the ideas you guys gave me that I can! And btw, I'm taking prompts for other things in general, so if you wanna give me some gen. prompts that would be rad 8). Also, tell me how you enjoyed the chapter!