Thongs slapping against the sidewalk. Black sling-bag swinging in time with his steps. Luffy sighed once again and opened his eyes. He stared into the distance through his black bangs and mused.

"He isn't, really?"

The teenager reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter that was obviously already opened. He slid out the main piece of paper, his eyes lingering at the blue stamp at the top of the page, certifying it's authenticity. He inhaled deeply to hold back the tears that he felt emerging.

His eyes looked over the words. The words that stuck out most in his mind. The words that had kept him awake for the past few days; '...Portgas D. Ace is not biologically related to Monkey D. Luffy...'

Luffy couldn't help but tear up. Eventually, he stopped walking and found that he was already outside his apartment building.

He fondled his squishy, skull-and-crossbones keyring, then inserted the key into the lock.

"MONKEY. D. LUFFY!"

"Ah!" Luffy was taken aback by the sudden yell.

"Did you go through my mail again?!" Ace glared at his younger brother, palm to his forehead. "What have I told you about going through my mail?!"

"I-I did, but I didn't look at any of it!" The shorter, more scrawny boy lied.

Ace sighed, "Luffy, please don't look through my mail. I'm expecting something really important."

"Okay, I won't."

"Yeah, that's what you said last time..." The older brother placed his hands on his hips and frowned. He was considered a very handsome young adult, with sleek black hair, light freckles and big muscles.

"I'm going to my room." Luffy said after slipping off his sandals.

"You okay, Luffy?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Luffy gave a half-hearted smile and walked into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

"Luffy?" Ace walked up to the door and placed his ear to the wood, hoping to hear some sort of explination for Luffy's odd behaviour. He was immediately disheartened and filled with guilt when he heard sobbing. Hard sobbing.

"LUFFY!" Ignoring everything around him, Ace burst into Luffy's room. "What's wrong?!"

"Wah-?" Luffy looked towards Ace, tears rolling down his face. "A-Ace!" He picked up the letter he had looked at on his way home, scrunching it up his his fist.

"Why are you crying, Luffy?"

"It's nothing! Don't worry!"

Ace frowned. "Has someone been bullying you again? Zoro? Did he hit you again?"

"What? No. It isn't about Zoro. It's nothing, really!"

"Luffy," He eyed his brother's fist, where the paper was being held viciously. "What's that in your hand?"

"Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!" Luffy cried, "It's not your mail, or anything!"

Ace growled, "LUFFY! Give me the letter. Right now."

Luffy was silent. "Luffy!"

The younger D began crying again. "Ace! Ace! Y-you're...you're not my--!"

'Oh, fuck.' Ace thought. Luffy had finally found out that he and Ace were not related. "Listen, Luffy..."

Ace had no idea what to say. He looked away from the distraught teen and back. He climbed onto the small bed and hugged his adopted brother.

"It...it won't change anything, Luffy."

"Y-yes! It w-will!" Luffy stammered through his tears.

"No!" Ace turned Luffy around on his bottom, so that he was facing him. "That letter won't change a thing."

Luffy remained silent, slightly confused.

"This...will..." Ace closed his eyes and pressed his lips against Luffy's.

Luffy tried to speak into the kiss, trying to say, "What?!"

Ace pulled away and began to explain. "Luffy, you may not like what I'm about to tell you, but...I need to tell you anyway." He cleared his throat. "I love you, Luffy. Not like a little brother. Not like a friend. To be honest, I wanted that letter to say we weren't related."

"Ace...you...?" Luffy whispered.

"I want you, Luffy."