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The questions started once Luffy disappeared whenever they docked at whatever island they appeared on. As the newly crowned Pirate king, and one that was connected to the new Whitebeard Pirates captained by Ace, and the Revolutionary Army which Sabo became the main figurehead of after Dragon stepped down, there were questions from not only his crew but from his older brothers too.
None of them managed to get Luffy to reveal who he was seeing, who it was that managed to get him to smile like that. Who, after all the people who had thrown themselves at his feet, had won his heart for them too.
Zoro, it seemed, was the only one who had an inkling as to what was going on and who Luffy was seeing. Making several of the crew think that it was Zoro and Luffy sleeping together. Until they started to notice that Zoro was always on board of the Sunny whenever Luffy disappeared. He just smiled at that, that razor sharp grin making them doubt their whole idea.
Just asking the first mate didn’t do anything, Zoro didn’t answer if he didn’t want to. Didn’t feel like betraying his captain’s thrust like that. He just told them to let it rest, that Luffy would be telling them all soon enough. There was no reason they needed to keep whatever it was a secret.
However, the way he phrased it made Ace and Sabo, as well as Nami, Robin and Sanji, suspect that it could be a marine. After all, with Luffy being crowned King, and the revolution taking place, it was clear that something had to change with the marines too. Garp and his like-minded pupils, aided by SWORD, made quick work of the old regime and instituted a new one. One where the people came first instead of inbred fools and too much money than was good for a person.
This new era was one that was shaped by pirates, that saw a welfare for those that sailed the seas looking for freedom. Not at all aided by legends like the Whitebeard Pirates once again appearing, even if it was with a different captain it became clear that even the loss of Edward Newgate didn’t stop them in wanting to keep protecting their family '(chances just had it that the new Pirate King was a part of that family in their eyes).
With all of them in the New World it was no strange sight to see Ace or Sabo suddenly appearing from the horizon, grinning as they boarded the Sunny as if it was their own ship. One of the first times this had happened while Luffy hadn’t been on board had been odd. Both older brothers of their captain had been worried something had happened, forgetting that Monkey D. Luffy was more than capable of taking care of himself. He hadn’t needed them for so long, so why would he need them now after everything he had managed to do.
After appearing back on the Sunny, Luffy was haunted by Ace and Sabo as to where he had been. His lips sealed though, to his older brothers’ frustrations. Luffy couldn’ keep a secret if his life depended on it, so he didn’t saw anything. Just smiling at them, and playing on the fact that Ace and Sabo were happy to see him to make them forget that he had been away from his ship when they arrived.
—-
It became a game, and one where Ace and Sabo’s partners became invested in too. Masked Deuce and Koala were a terrific team, even without their boyfriends. Once they learned that Luffy was keeping something from Ace and Sabo they wanted in. They wanted to know, for the sake of knowing, and ran into Luffy and his new partner before even Ace and Sabo did.
The revelation made them laugh, shaking their head at the sight of the person holding hands with Luffy. They should have seen this coming. It was obvious now that they saw, neither of them were even hiding it. Not in the way they could, and would have needed to do under the old regime.
“Everyone is going to freak out.”
Deuce blinked at that, looking at Luffy’s boyfriend, “How is Garp going to react?”
Coby bit his lip, “He already knows, he found out one of the first times and demanded to know who I was seeing so he could beat them up. I didn’t tell, but Luffy appeared, rolling his eyes at his grandfather and telling the man that he’d never be a marine, but dating one was as close as he’d get.”
Snorting at that, Deuce had to laugh, “I can see that happening. That happened the first time the old man ran into me and Ace. He wanted to know who had been brave enough to follow the oldest of his grandsons. When he found us kissing that only evolved into a shovel talk. I was scared for life.”
Luffy giggled, “He means well, but I set him straight. He just seemed proud, and left it alone that I didn’t become a marine too. Dating one was good enough in his eyes, in the end, especially one he trained himself.”
Coby shuddered, “He gave me a shovel talk after you left, telling me to treat you right and all that. I have to agree with Deuce that it scared me for life. I love the man like the grandfather I never had, or that I will have as an in-law now that I think about it, but he’s not someone I want to cross.”
Laughing harder, Luffy just bent closer to press a kiss to Coby’s lips. A soft blush appeared on the pink haired man as he did so.
Pulling back, Luffy only smiled brighter. Swinging their hands back and forth, before looking down the alley to see his brothers standing there. Both Ace and Sabo were gaping at the two of them, before turning to Deuce and Koala with betrayal in their eyes. Both of them just started to laugh, holding up their hands in the universal surrender gesture.
“We only found out just before the two of you, stop with looking like that.”
Sabo huffed, but made his way to Koala to hug her close to his chest. Looking at Luffy before nodding at Coby. They had spent a little time together at Marigeose, not that this was a time Sabo remembered fondly. But he knew that the pink haired man would go far in life because of those moments in time.
Ace, likewise, came to stand next to Deuce. Taking his boyfriend’s hand before looking at Luffy and Coby.
He too knew that Coby wasn’t like any other marine he had encountered. The way Coby had stepped before Akainu alone was telling that he didn’t think like others did. He might have painted a target on his back because of that, but he had brought Ace, Marco and the other Whitebeard Pirates the time to gather the dead and the wounded and make for the ships. Once Shanks appeared it became clear that the pirates had won here. Yet, Ace never forgot the man that had saved his life, and with it, Luffy’s.
Looking at the two now, he could see why this had grown. How compatible they were together and how Coby was one of the few who would be able to keep up with Luffy.
“Just take care of him, it’s going to be a full-time job, I know what I’m talking about.”
Sabo laughed, while Luffy pouted at his oldest brother.
Coby shook his head, “Don’t worry, I know what kinds of trouble he can get into. It’s how we met all those years ago even.”
This had all four of them coming closer to hear as Coby recounted how he and Luffy had met all those years ago. Him being a n East Blue native wasn’t even that surprising, he needed to have the balls to be able to keep up with Garp’s training, and for falling for Luffy in a way that they had been together for years.
It wasn’t said in that many words, but it was clear that this wasn’t somùething new. Maybe spawning all the way to when they first met. Which would explain why Zoro had known all along.
Ace rolled his eyes, “It had to be Lu who wouldn’t date a pirate.”
Mentioning to himself and Deuce, he saw Sabo frown at him, to which Ace waved him away, “You don’t count, you would have been a pirate if you hadn’t lost your memories. Besides, Koala was a pirate at one time, so you’re also dating a pirate technically.”
Laughing at the way Ace said it, Koala had to give it to the black haired man. She had been a part of Tiger Fisher’s crew at one point in time. It wasn’t long, and she wasn’t officially a pirate, but it was enough in a way.
Luffy only beamed brighter, “Does this mean you don’t mind?”
Looking at Luffy with an eyebrow tilted, Ace shook his head, “We just want you happy, Lu, that’s all there is to it. If he makes you happy that’s all we need. He’s a good lad, Sabo and I knew that from before. Besides, I’m quite sure this has been going on since you set out, or sometime after that. There is no way that whatever we say would change your mind on this.”
Humming at that, Luffy couldn’t fault his older brother’s logic. No matter what they would have said, he would have kept seeing Coby, he truly made him happy and was able to keep up with him. Had even made sure that he would be able to keep up with Luffy once he disappeared after the disaster that was Marineford.
Looking at his boyfriend as if proving a point, Luffy grinned as Coby sighed.
“I guess we don’t have to hide anymore.”
A cheer as all he heard, before Luffy was pulling him along onto the Sunny, grinning at the looks of shock on his crew’s faces. The only one with a grin had been the one already knowing, Zoro nodded at Coby before settling back down to take a nap.
He didn’t join the Strawhats, and was a prominent member of the Marines, but if one needed vice-admiral Coby after their official announcement about the relationship between him and the Pirate King, chances were one could find him on the Thousand Sunny more than on his own ship.