Chapter Text
Another ordinary morning.
Luffy woke before the sun had fully risen.
His body ached.
It always did now.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and wandered into the living room. Ace and Sabo were asleep on the couch, still dressed in yesterday's clothes. Empty takeout containers sat on the coffee table, and a work bag had been left open on the floor.
They must've gotten home late again.
Luffy smiled despite the ache in his chest. They looked exhausted.
Don't wake them.
He moved as quietly as he could, grabbed his school bag, and slipped out the front door without breakfast.
His stomach growled before he'd even reached the end of the street.
He ignored it.
He hated going to school on an empty stomach. It made him feel nauseous during class, and when break rolled around, he was never able to eat.
He didn't know when things went so wrong.
At first, after Luffy shifted here with his brothers, it was pretty chill.
He made lots of friends, and spoke to basically everyone in his grade.
The fact that he was good at basketball seemed to help. Luffy hoped he would get a scholarship and help ease the financial burden off his brothers.
It was also one of the reasons he forced himself to go to school every day.
He was friends with basically everyone, and though his grades weren't the best, his teachers too were friendly with him.
But then one day, it all went downhill.
HE noticed how Luffy got attention.
That was when it began.
Luffy's life turned into a living hell.
Everyone whispered when he walked by now; contrary to the open, cheerful greetings he used to receive.
However, Luffy couldn't help but think it was probably his own fault. Shouldn't have caught the wrong person's attention.
HE would call him out with a smirk during breaks. 'Sessions', he called them.
These 'sessions' consisted of 'training'.
Beating him up, saying it would make him stronger. His threats echoed in Luffy's mind, "Now, now, don't want your precious brothers to be in danger, do you?"
Luffy would glare at him with all he had.
It didn't help that HE had influence all over the school. Spread malicious rumours about Luffy, warned all his friends- no, acquaintances, to stay away from him. Luffy had no friends anymore.
Luffy was broken out of his thoughts when he reached the dull gates of his school - the 'prestigious' school his brothers had worked so hard to get him into.
Suddenly, a heavy hand slammed into Luffy's back. He stumbled forward as other kids glanced in their direction, looking away just as casually.
Luffy turned around, and as expected, it was HIM.
Oh, great. His 'friend' was here this early. Couldn't even wait till the break.
"LUFFY! Missed you yesterday! Did you go home early? I got to the gate and waited for you, but you weren't there!" he said, in a tone Luffy found uncomfortable.
The other guys surrounding him laughed at that.
Luffy looked down.
"Hmm. Okay, meet'cha at 12 then?"
Luffy trembled as he slowly looked up, nodding.
Smiling wide, the big guy walked away with the crowd laughing loudly.
Luffy stood still for a few seconds, as the voices vanished.
He trudged towards his class, wearily.
Luffy headed toward an empty desk.
Before he reached it, the student sitting beside it tossed his backpack onto the chair.
"Taken."
A few snickers spread through the room.
The teacher glanced up from his attendance sheet, hesitated for a second...then continued calling names.
Luffy scratched the back of his head and laughed weakly.
"Guess I'll sit in the back."
Luffy felt eyes follow him as he sat at the back with a small smile.
His eyes stung.
-
He couldn't anymore.
It was the end of the day, and he glanced up at the sky.
Rain clouds hung low overhead.
He opened the rusty door.
Students weren't allowed here. Luffy didn't care about that anymore.
He trudged forward, his arms bleeding. He had used a blade today.
He got over the ledge.
The grey skies felt like fine weather.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He forgot to switch his phone off. But he felt guilty for not saying goodbye to his only family.
He glanced at the screen, and his heart lurched. It was Ace.
After a moment's hesitation, he shakily picked it up.
"Lu? Why did you leave so early today? 'Bo was about to make something for your lunch!"
Luffy closed his eyes, a tear escaping.
His heart beat faster and faster, till he heard his brother's voice on the other end. "Luffy? Hello?"
"Y-y-yeah. S-sorry, Ace."
"Luffy? When does your class end? Got any practice today?"
Luffy began crying. He couldn't hold it in anymore.
He had to protect his brothers.
"Luffy?? What's wrong?"
Luffy found himself struggling to breathe.
He lowered his phone - his arm shook too much.
He vaguely heard Ace yelling, and Sabo's soothing voice on the other end.
After what felt like forever, he began breathing.
"-keep breathing Luffy. Are you okay?"
Ace interrupted, yelling "Where are you, Luffy?"
Luffy said between sobs, "I-I'm sorry Ace. I'm really sorry."
"WHERE ARE YOU LUFFY??" Ace repeated, panting.
Luffy shut his eyes as he ended the call, silencing his phone before more calls came in.
He didn't want to hear anymore.
The only two people in the world who cared about him.
He bit his lip and cried harder, sobbing freely.
He felt guilt creeping up. He failed them. His treasures.
He apologized over and over, to no one in particular.
He smiled, a genuine smile as he realised they would now be safe. Safe from Teach's clutches.
Finally, he looked down. He thought he heard someone call his name. Oh, well.
He jumped.
Before he hit the cold stones below, everything went black.