Chapter Text
Ace laid on his back in the middle of the living room floor, with his eyes glued to his phone. He is tired okay? It’s been a long few weeks.
Ace is one of the top heroes in the nation, he almost does all the work. Well not really, but it sure does feel like. But hero-ing is rather fun, regardless of the injuries and backlash you get from the villains… And civilians. Not to mention he saved plenty of lives and Ace is one of the heroes that is adored by the people.
The world they live in is— harsh, one could say. Villains roaming around with dangerous abilities and horrible intentions, who knows what could happened to the people you love. So Ace took the chance to protect, and they pay really well so Ace doesn’t complain much.
He should really go pick Luffy up from school, the idiot might wonder off somewhere and get himself into trouble. “Haaa, hope Sabo having a good day.” Ace sigh, he sat up and stretched his arms out in the air until he heard a pop. Ace then head over to grab his keys and out of the door, of course he didn’t forget to lock it.
The drive to Luffy’s school wasn’t that long, waiting for the idiot usually takes about a couple of minutes. But today however just as Ace was about to park his car, someone slam themselves onto the side of the car. “Aceee! Open the door!” Luffy yelled from outside the car, with his face smush on the car window. Ace stare at him blankly before unlocking the door.
“You’re in a hurry today, something happened?” Ace smile, Luffy hops onto the car seat, closing the door behind him as Ace started to drive off. “There is gonna be a filed trip next week! Can I go can I go?”
“Sure! Where you’re going?”
“I don’t know, they didn’t say.”
“Then what did they say? Just a school trip?”
“No.”
“Okay, asked Sabo when we get home.”
“Yosh!”
Luffy cheers and taking out a chocolate bar from his bag. “Oi. Give me a bite” Ace demanded, his eyes fixed on the rode. “Nu-uh, my friend gave it to me.” Luffy declared as he pull the bar away from Ace as he was going to launch at him. “You can’t have it” Luffy said sticking out his tongue at Ace. Hearing that Ace eyes darken as he lock the doors.
Ace made a sharp swerve to the left, causing Luffy to be knocked over and smashed onto the car door with a ‘oof’. A few loud horns came from behind them.
“Here.” Luffy said as he crack three pieces of chocolate and feeding them to his brother. “That’s all you get though.” He muttered.
“Thank you.”
The ride was rather smooth for a work day, usually it was more packed than this time of the day. So Ace took this opportunity to stop at one of their favourite restaurants. He makes a turn away from their usual route home, Luffy seems to notice and brighten up “Where we’re going? Are we going to Sanji’s?” He excitedly asks, Turing his head to Ace and grinding up at him.
“Sharp one. Yeah we’re going to the Baratie, Sabo is home late today so he won’t be having dinner with us tonight. You wanna go right?”
“Yeah! Shi shi You’re the best Ace.”
“I know”
———-
“We’ll have everything. Oh and add three more steaks that have those white stuff on it.” Ace said as he lowered the menu back to the table, Luffy sat across from him who was staring down at his own menu.
“Yes sir. Will that be all?” The waiter asked once again with a nervous smile plastered on his face.
“”Yup”” Both Ace and Luffy exclaimed in union.
“Then your order will arrive shortly, please wait until then.”
A buzzing sound came from Ace’s pocket. He froze, that wasn’t his ringtone.
No, it was a hero alert.
There’s a villain attack nearby. Shit, they need to get out here. Ace grab his phone and read the message displayed on the bright screen, a villain has blew up a government building a few stores from them. And a few buildings around it has caught on fire.
The few buildings being the Baratie.
The fire started upstairs but was quickly spreading. There was a scream and panic erupted in the restaurant. Ace turned around ready to drag Luffy out of here, when he sees his brother chugging down on food from an abandoned table.
Better eat while you can I guess.
If anyone asked , yes, Ace and Luffy ate all the food in the restaurant while the building was on fire. And if Sabo asked, no, they did not eat anything and was the first one to escape from the burning building.
The television in the restaurant was on, showcasing a scene of a burning building live from a helicopter. The news reporter on the screen said something about a vigilante group, trying to stop the villain— but Ace was too busy trying to get Luffy and everyone out of the restaurant.
The fire has spread far from their original location, and Ace can’t reveal his identity. But he can secretly slow the flames down. Ace grabbed Luffy by the arm and drag him to the entrance of the restaurant where a sea of people was screaming and pushing each other. They all eventually made it out safely, no one was injured by the fire- or the pushing. And outside was just as dangerous as inside was, cars were blocking roads as everyone tried to avoid the fighting that was happening. Some decided to just run for it as the fire grew bigger and— Ace has lost Luffy.
Shit…
“Everyone get away from the fire!” Someone shouted from above him. “Sir please step away from the fire!” Oh they were talking to him, Ace stare down at his feet he was one step away from the raging flames. Ace forgot fire doesn’t burn him, a hand grab his arm pulling him away from the flames and to safely. Ace pulled away from the hand, turning around and holding the person behind by the shoulders “Wait! My little brother is missing, have you seen him?” Ace desperately asked, finally taking a good look at the person— vigilante…
Black?
Or whatever his name is- it doesn’t matter right now! He lost his little brother in a burning building, his little brother who is made of rubber! Sabo so gonna kill him.
“Have you seen a black haired boy with a scar under his left eye?” Ace asked shaking the vigilante, his anxiety is kicking in. He was breathing heavily and the flames were getting bigger it’s reacting to his emotions, this is not good…
“Please calm down sir, Im sure your brother is safe—“
“Aceee!!” A shout came from behind them. “Come over here!”
“Luffy! What do you think you’re doing running off like that?!” Ace let go of the vigilante and rush over to his brother who was standing on top of their car, which was surprisingly unharmed. He stopped in front of the car, pulling Luffy down from it and smacking him across the head. Luffy let out a loud ‘ow’ “Aceeee, what did you do that for!?” Rubbing his head where a bump was present, glaring up at Ace. “What did we say about staying close!? You’re made of rubber you idiot, you could’ve melt if I didn’t pull you out of there.” Ace scold, he could feel a headache forming, maybe this is what Sabo has to deal with on the daily. If so then Ace owns him an apology.
“Haaa, are you okay? And where did you go? I was literally holding you the entire time.” Ace asked hoping for a clear answer or better yet an explanation, this can’t be good for his heart. “I’m fine, I was helping the old man.” Luffy bluntly nodded. Just like Ace expected, a straightforward answer with no hesitation.
Well at least he’s safe.
A scream is heard from behind them followed by loud shouting from the crowd to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading any further. Oh yeah, the fire. Ace completely forgot about that. “Luffy stay away from the fire got it? I’ll be back.” Ace declared as he was about to make his way towards the shouting, when he looked back however the vigilante from before— what was his name? Stealth Black? Blacky? (Ace actually doesn’t remember) has seems to have everything under control.
He and a few of his friends? Along with a hero is evacuating everyone from the burning buildings and to safety. This might be the first time Ace has seen a hero working together with vigilantes, other than him.
The fire has stopped only leaving dark clouds of smoke behind as evidence. The injured civilians were rushed to the hospital and the roads started to clear as the traffic jam cleared. Thankfully him and Luffy weren’t injured in anyway, the heroes soon got the citizens to calm down and after everything was settled Ace and Luffy drove home with a full belly. Sadly they didn’t caught the villain responsible for the fire, but there were a few suspects.
And Luffy was clearly upset with the situation, Sanji, one of his friends Ace remembered owns the place with his father. But everything seems to be okay, they managed to find Sanji along with his old man, they said the restaurant had survived fires way worse before. The restaurant was pretty okay and didn’t took as much damage from the fire, compared to the other buildings.
The ride home was calm, no traffic jam or any other unexpected fires and villainy activities. Which makes sense, since they live in one of the more higher districts that doesn’t have any villains activities. Or as Ace was aware at least, but it is one of the most safest places in the city.
———-
It was exactly seven thirty in the evening when they arrived home, so they had made a few stops here and there before actually heading home. Ace needed to refill the car and they technically didn’t have their third lunch yet, with the fire and all. But it’s fine since they bought groceries for tomorrow morning.
Ace opened the bonnet, taking out the groceries with Luffy’s help. They walked into the house hands full with plastic bags containing various items. Then Luffy kicked the door opened.
…
Huh.
Ace was sure he locked it.
“We’re home!” Luffy shouted. A ‘Welcome home!’ Echoed through the house, followed by the sound of metal crashing down onto each other and running water coming from the kitchen.
Ace place his car keys on a table near the door, as Luffy ran towards the noise in the kitchen. Later he followed Luffy into the kitchen. Where Sabo was cutting vegetables, probably starting on dinner.
“Sabo you’re home already? Ace said you’ll be home late today.” Luffy asked swinging the bags around and flinging it onto the kitchen island, the bags hit the marble with two loud ‘thud’. Ace wince, thankfully the bags didn’t have any eggs in them. Or any glass bottles. “I finished work early today, and got home early.” Sabo said, putting the knife down on the cutting board and turning over to the two men behind him. He puts his hands on his waist tilting his head slightly to the right, his brows frowning as he said annoyed “You’re the late ones.”
“Yeah sorry about that, we went to get groceries for tomorrow and ate at the Baratie—“
“The Baratie caught on fire Sabo!” Luffy cut Ace off. “What?! What happened? Are you two okay?!” Sabo cried out completely abandoning his vegetables and jumping over the kitchen island to cup Luffy’s face into his hands. “Hmm fin’e Sa bo.” Luffy muffled, Sabo didn’t seem to notice however as he scans Luffy’s body for any kind burn. After finding nothing Sabo lets out a sigh of relief, until his eyes landed on Ace who was smiling a bit too wide.
“What?” Sabo blurted out instead. “Not gonna check if ‘I’ was okay or not?” Ace questioned, his smile wider as he tilted his head slightly toward Sabo with a raised brow. “Please, if it’s a fire you’re the last thing I’ll be worried about.”
“You wound me. How could you?! My own brother a narcissist.” Ace pleaded, placing a hand on his forehead and another on top of his chest. “And here I thought you cared.”
“Oh wow, what a bitch.”
“OI!”
“Sorry, sorry. But who’s making dinner for you again?”
“Thanks for the food Sabo!” Ace cheer.
“Yeah that’s right, go and take a sit it’ll be done in a few.” Sabo affirmed, gesturing to the table as he walked towards the island to continue cutting the vegetables. Luffy then proceeded to happily talk about his day to Sabo, from a field trip happening next week that his school was hosting to the fire in the restaurant. Ace decided that he really needed a shower, so a shower he took.
Dinner was chaotic as usual, rubber limbs flying everywhere taking food from every plate in sight, forks being thrown across the room, and there were more scratching, biting and pulling then eating if someone from an outsider point of view was paying extra attention.
After dinner everyone seems way too tired for their own good, so Sabo suggested an early bed time. Which they complain, but the second Ace head hit the pillow Sabo has place on the sofa. Everything went dark.
———-
When Ace woke up it was exactly nine in the morning, he is still on the sofa where he fell asleep on but the only difference is he is alone.
The house is quiet, Luffy should be at school by now and Sabo will be at work the whole day. And Ace, has walk at the hero tower.
…
Wait he needs to drive Luffy to school!
Ace shot up from the sofa, with daze eyes Ace quickly try’s to navigate his way through to the bathroom. Which he fails, he ran straight into a wall.
Twice.
But he manages to find his way to a bathroom regardless, “Ace are you awake yet?” He heard Luffy called out from the hallway. “Yeah I am! Get ready you idiot you’re gonna be late!” Ace called out and quickly brushing his teeth.
“What am I late for?” Luffy asked, poking his head out from the bathroom while holding some sort of snack. Ace spit the remaining toothpaste out of his mouth and wash it down with water “School, what else.”
…
“It’s a Saturday Ace” Sabo chime in, he stands next to the peeking Luffy both staring at their brother.
“Oh”
“But you do have work today, so get ready.” Sabo added as he walked away from the scene.
“Goodluck Ace!”
“Yeah yeah I got it.”