This is a fluffy chapter but it gets more dramatic and serious in the next. Please review.
The wind was fierce and the rain was pelting down in sheets, but it didn't bother Luffy. He couldn't feel the rain or wind. His clothes and hair stayed still in the wind, and he seemed to have little blue lights around him, but they were just raindrops reflecting his glow. Only he could see it though. No one else would see the glowing blue rain.
The walk to the park wasn't unpleasant, even though it was loud. He got back to the park, figuring his cave must be flooded. It was irritating when that happened because he couldn't go inside. It would be so full of water that he'd be scrunched against the ceiling, since he could only stand on the water. He walked down one of the trails, going to the massive trees and climbing it, thinking about how Zoro might not want to walk to the park in this weather. But they already agreed to meet there and he really didn't want to leave the park again tonight to go make different plans.
Zoro went to bed with his mind buzzing about the day. Luffy was actually really fun to be around. He had a carefree attitude that Zoro enjoyed being around. Most of his family, even outside his parents, were uptight. He guessed that was the price of being wealthy; everyone had a stick up their butt. Zoro hoped to god he didn't act like that.
Though he was slightly irritated he cared what he the ghost thought about him, he was looking forward to tomorrow, even if he had to hang out in the rain with his new friend.
Weeks went by as the two took turns hanging out at each other's homes. Even though he and Zoro mostly watched movies together, they still enjoyed each other's company. After exploring the park some, Luffy brought Zoro up to the top ridge he'd been to before. Zoro was told to bring hiking gear, which he went out and bought since he didn't own anything. Luffy warned him to be quiet and stay low so he doesn't bother the bears. Zoro was quite nervous about their little expedition, both from falling and breaking his neck, or getting mauled by bears. But he had to say, when he reached the top and saw the bears happily eating salmon in the rapids and playing with each other, the climb was worth it.
He watched behind a large rock for a while as Luffy wandered around the bears, walking silently across the surface of the water. It didn't matter how many times he saw Luffy jump from impossible heights and land silently and perfectly fine, or his glow, or him walking through things; it was fascinating every time.
Luffy was finally able to sit on the furniture in Zoro's home without sinking right through. He hadn't tried the stairs again though. He wouldn't ever, and was content with sliding down or walking up the banister or simply jumping off the landing. Luffy had seen Zoro's family once, and was not impressed. They completely ignored their son, who did the same to them. Neither party seemed to bothered about it, though. Luffy convinced himself it was none of his business and just followed Zoro upstairs.
Zoro found himself wanting to spend more and more time with Luffy, and everyday he was sad when Luffy left to go back to his home or vice versa, but always went to sleep looking forward to the next day. He felt himself wanting to reach out and take Luffy's hand, even though he knew it would just pass right through and cause Luffy pain, which he did not want to do. He didn't know Luffy felt the same.
It was tiring at first to go to Zoro's house after so long of being on his own in the big park. Tiring mentally, not physically. But the more he went, the sadder he felt when he left. He liked learning new things and seeing new technology, which seemed like magic to Luffy, but he also liked spending time with Zoro in his own home. He was glad Zoro didn't seem to get bored when they walked around the park, and he even liked to hang out in Luffy's cave. He brought his phone in once in a plastic bag and played music from it, echoing around the space. The music made the little alcove seem even more magical than when the walls glittered. They talked about random things for hours in that cave. Luffy loved asking questions, while Zoro liked seeing Luffy do impossible things. He couldn't count how many times he walked over the water and Zoro looked at him like he was the coolest thing ever. That made Luffy feel good about himself.
Every time the ghost boy had to move a few inches away from Zoro when they walked upset him. For once he wasn't sad about being a ghost; he was irritated and somewhat angry he couldn't touch Zoro at all. But Zoro respected his space, most likely not wanting to hurt his friend. Luffy wondered if his living friend ever thought the thoughts Luffy sometimes did. He felt somewhat ashamed of his thoughts.
Every single time Luffy walked through something, it reminded him he could never touch anyone ever again without being in pain. It was more tolerable before he had someone he might want to touch or hold their hand, but now that he did it was a terrible feeling. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, which he wasn't used to. He still was cheerful around Zoro, but he was feeling negative emotions more often. More negative than sadness. But Zoro made him happier than he had been in a while. It was confusing. How could someone make you so happy but so unintentionally frustrated at the same time? Luffy knew it wasn't Zoro's fault he couldn't him. He knew that. But still.
A few weeks after the two had started hanging out, Luffy and Zoro were sitting on Zoro's bed as Luffy watched Zoro play a video game. Luffy was fascinated with it, while Zoro was amused with Luffy oo's and ah's and that expression on his face whenever he learned or saw something new. The smile that brightened his whole face. Luffy had many smiles, but Zoro's favorite was this one. Partly because when he wore this smile, he directed it at Zoro, maybe unintentionally, but still.
Zoro had come to terms with his weird feelings about Luffy, because lately, instead of looking at Luffy's hands and wanting to hold them, he was looking at Luffy's lips and wanting to kiss him. Luffy hadn't caught his best friend's blushes sometimes. Now, that was a weird feeling as well. His whole face got uncomfortably hot, and at first he thought it was perpetual embarrassment for some reason. But he figured it out eventually. He had a crush on Luffy. A crush on a dead boy who could walk through objects, was invisible to everyone else, was untouchable and could leap from impossible heights without getting hurt. Maybe part of his feelings were because Luffy was so unique and fascinating. At least at first. But now, he'd come to love Luffy's smile and voice and everything he said, everything he did, made him love him more. Zoro hadn't ever known he was gay, but he felt no problem with it. Screw anyone who doesn't like it.
Luffy, though, still couldn't place his emotions and feelings whenever he thought of his friend. He didn't have the forward thoughts Zoro had, since Luffy had never been involved in romance or remember anything about it from his life. He wasn't exposed to anything of the sort in at least fifty one years. The feelings didn't feel familiar, but felt completely new. Zoro knew all about romance from daily life. Movies, magazines, seeing people together, and his parents years ago.
The two had done a good job not touching each other, since Luffy would just go right through Zoro if they did. They usually kept a minimum of three inches between each other, but they were going to bump eventually.
One day, Zoro brought his legs up to sit cross legged like Luffy was beside him, but his knee touched Luffy as he adjusted his position. Both teens froze in shock. Zoro hadn't passed through Luffy, he had touched him. Like, felt the surface of his body and the warmth of the glow Zoro hadn't noticed before. Luffy's jaw dropped and he turned to look at Zoro, who looked just as shocked. Zoro was secretly ecstatic he had touched the person he loved, and that he could without hurting him.
The living teen became rather forward in his excitement. He trailed his hand along Luffy's arm gently, the skin strangely soft under his fingertips. He touched Luffy's black hair, which was softer than his velvety skin. Then Zoro did what he had been dying to do and wishing it was possible. He leaned forward and touched his lips to Luffy.
Luffy felt tingly where Zoro's fingers brushed his arm and was surprised when Zoro smiled and brought his mouth to Luffy's. It was a soft butterfly kiss but it spoke worlds to Luffy and meant worlds to Zoro. Luffy knew Zoro must have been having the tingly and strange feelings like him, and he was happy about it. He wasn't alone in his wish to get closer.
Luffy hesitantly brought his hand to Zoro's and relaxed into the kiss. Zoro was gentle, assuming Luffy had never been kissed, well at least not in over fifty years. After he broke apart from the soft kiss, Luffy smiled sheepishly, causing Zoro to smile as well, overjoyed he hadn't just screwed their friendship over. He leaned in again, bringing his hand to the back of Luffy's head and kissing him more deeply, but not forcefully. He waited for Luffy to kiss him back, which once he did, Luffy felt extremely embarrassed he couldn't figure out how to move his lips without risking accidentally eating Zoro's lips.
"I don't know how to kiss..." Luffy whispered when Zoro broke away a second time.
"That's fine," Zoro said, tucking a strand of Luffy's hair behind his ear with a smile. "I can teach you." Luffy nodded, waiting for another kiss, and tried his best to mirror Zoro's movements once the kiss started again. Zoro had trouble not laughing at Luffy's furrowed brow when he'd opened his eyes. Luffy was trying so hard and it was actually really cute.
Zoro took a chance and opened his mouth a bit into the kiss, trying to teach Luffy as best he could without words. Luffy tried to mimic Zoro, but really wasn't good at it. He made a surprised noise when Zoro touched Luffy's lip with his tongue. It was a bit unexpected, but he went with it and opened his mouth for Zoro. He assumed that's what he was supposed to do because Zoro smiled into the kiss and slipped his tongue in.
It went like that for a while until Zoro had to break the kiss to breathe deeply. Luffy was a little breathless, but he didn't have to breathe like a living person. It was mostly from the experience, not a body's need for air.
Luffy would have been blushing like mad if he could. He was unsure about how well it went. Did he mess it up completely, or did he do okay? He definitely didn't do a great job, but he hoped it wasn't unpleasant for Zoro. It was very pleasant for the ghost boy.
"Did I do okay?" Luffy asked quietly. Zoro smiled and grabbed Luffy's hand and kissed the palm.
"You did good. I'm sorry if it was too sudden," Zoro replied somewhat nervously. Did Luffy enjoy it? Was it too forward and too soon? He felt a little more at ease and when Luffy gave a sheepish smile.
"I've kinda wanted to… touch you for a while, but I assumed it wouldn't work," Luffy said quietly. But then he thought of something he found funny. "You must have looked so weird kissing the air," he said with a laugh.
"I don't care if it looks weird. I like you so I'll kiss you if I want," Zoro said like it was the most obvious thing ever. "And you want," he added quickly.
Luffy smiled at his words. "I like you too," he said quietly and happily. Zoro smirked. It had been hard to tell with Luffy. He showed are wide variety of emotions, and confusion had been included. If he blushed, it would be easier to tell. Zoro had taken a chance just now. Luffy could have easily pulled away and Zoro would have made their friendship awkward. Even though they'd met only a few weeks ago, Zoro felt like they clicked almost instantly. He felt the strong feelings start only the second week of them hanging out with each other.
Luffy suddenly crawled into Zoro's lap and sat down in the space between his folded legs and asked if they could put on a movie. Zoro smiled and said yes, exiting his game to put on a movie easily.
During the movie, Zoro wrapped his arms around Luffy's waist and rested his jaw on Luffy's head, content to just hold him. Luffy was much shorter than Zoro, so the position felt natural.
Luffy was grinning through almost the whole movie, reveling in the feeling of being in Zoro's arms. If he was able to sleep, he would have enjoyed sleeping in the position.
When it got dark out, Luffy almost asked to stay the night, but he'd just be sitting in Zoro's room not doing anything for hours while his now significant other slept. Luffy really didn't like doing nothing for an extended period of time. Boredom plagued him when he wasn't actively exploring the park or just watching the stars. He used to sit on the lawn for a very long time, content to watch the people around him. It was only recently that he found he favored walking around the trails instead of watching people he couldn't interact with. He was thankful though, because he met Zoro by staying on that lawn. Zoro had told him that's when he noticed him.
Luffy said he had to go since it was getting dark out, and Zoro almost asked him to stay, but Zoro would be asleep the whole time. He was going to see Luffy tomorrow anyway. He was glad he still had over a month and a half until he starts senior year. He didn't want to think about what could happen when school started again. But even when he thought about it, he never once thought he couldn't still see the person he was in love with. They'd make it work. He knew it and would refuse otherwise.
The two said their goodbyes after Zoro initiated a quick kiss, causing Luffy to smile sheepishly again. The ghost boy walked through the door and slid down the banister and passed through the front door and walked back home.
The rest of the night, Luffy was smiling as he sat on the highest branch on the tallest tree and watched everything he could see.
Zoro went to bed happy. Happier than he'd been in a long time.
Two weeks passed by the two in a rush of happiness. There were many make out sessions and times where the two were content to have Zoro hold Luffy. They hung out in the cave a lot and even watched a movie in there, though it was only Zoro's phone on a makeshift stand, but it was pleasant anyway.
Zoro's parents caught him "talking to himself" once, forcing Zoro to wear a headset when Luffy was over and his parent were home to make it look like he was talking while playing online after the incident. He didn't need his parents getting on his case if they thought their son was crazy. God that'd be inconvenient
The two held hands wherever they went, even when they were in public while walking from Luffy's home to Zoro's and vice versa. Zoro didn't care. He didn't know any of these people anyway.
These moments made Luffy feel special and important, feelings he hadn't felt since he had died. Then the fire happened and ruined Luffy's happiness.