#I knew this would kill with the nosey neighbors crowd

[topazy]

Inside, outisde

Pairing: 10k x reader, Addy Carver sister!reader

Warnings: Blood, swearing

Chapter: 1.02

Slowly, you open your eyes, feeling the sweat sticking to your clothes as your eyes adjust to daylight. Groaning, you looked up to see 10k standing next to you. He was keeping watch with his hand wrapped securely around his gun.

Leaning forward, you noticed the cars had stopped moving. "What’s going on?"

"Ohh she finally wakes," Addy teases. "Warren has run out of gas."

As you jumped out the back of the truck, Mack motioned for you to get back. "Heads up," he pointed to the left. "We got company."

The group waited in silence as two men on motorbikes approached.

"That's right," Warren said quietly as she stared at them as they rode past. "Keep rolling and we all live to see another day."

The men started revving their engines before speeding off. Your eyes stayed glued to Casandra, who was trying to stay completely out of sight of them. You weren’t sure why, but something about that was off.

"We ran over some fun stuff," Doc chuckled, before Warren stabbed the z that was trapped underneath the wheel of her.

Warren turned and looked back at the town your group was leaving. "Even after all this, it's still beautiful. Take a good look. Might not be back for a while."

Addy let out a deep sigh, "so long New York. See ya in the next life."

—

Addy continued to take pictures and videos of the dead to document what was happening, while Warren and Garnet tried to figure out the group's next move.

You began scavenging for anything that could be useful in old cars. It was sad seeing all the belongings left behind, knowing all the owners were dead. You just hoped that somebody had granted them mercy. You felt slightly distracted from the task at hand when you overheard the conversation next to you.

"So what's your name, kid?"

"Ten Thousand."

"That is not a name," Doc laughed before pointing towards you. "It's a number. It’s almost as mad as her name."

"It's my name. I made it up myself."

Doc nodded, "Well I suppose you'd have to. Does it mean anything?"

10k just shrugged, "That's how many zombies I'm going to kill."

"How many have you killed?" You asked while looking through a kid's backpack.

"Already on 1,055."

Wow. That was impressive.

"So what happens when you get to 10,000?"

"Change my name."

For the short time that you’ve known him, 10k didn’t tend to speak much. His answers were usually short, and you got the impression he didn’t want to get too close to anyone.

"To what? Twenty thousand?" The older man laughed.

"Jeff."

Doc pulled a funny facial expression at you. Why Jeff? You wanted to know what his real name was, but decided against asking him at that moment. You were sure he wouldn’t appreciate any more questions.

You smiled at 10k, "I like that name."

Warren stepped down from the car roof she was standing on. She looked worried. "Where did everybody go? I haven't seen a survivor except for those two bikers."

"Black Summer," You eyed Cassandra carefully as she spoke, "Everybody starved to death."

"But you survived." You and Addy shared a look, "how did you survive?"

"Did what I had to do," Cassandra answered bluntly.

Frowning, you handed the bag with bottles of water you found to Mack before heading in the other direction to look some more. After a few moments, you heard a commotion, followed by a voice you didn’t recognize. You readied your bow and arrow as you walked back towards your group. One of the scruffy looking bikers from before was standing between Garnet and Warren. "I see you're scrounging for gas. You know, like we used to say, ass, gas or grass."

Murphy looked the man up and down, "Nobody rides for free."

The stranger looked smug, "I know where you could fill up."

"Now would be the time to share that information," Warren said, stepping closer to him.

"Place called Jersey Devil Refinery, maybe five miles off, just off the turnpike."

"How do you know there's gas there?" You asked, unsure whether to believe him or not.

"Got overrun day number one," he answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "All the tanks are still full, just rusting away."

"All right, take us to this refinery," Warren replied. "And if there's gas there like you say, you can ride with us to the next outpost."

The man grinned, "you won't be sorry."

Garnett looked unsure but went along with it anyway. "Let's get out of here. I'll be riding with Warren and a new guy. Everybody else load up in the truck."

Murphy groaned. "So are we just gonna pick up every sketchy loser at every place we stop?"

You scoffed, "well we brought you along, didn't we?"

Once you got into the back of the trunk, 10k leaned in to you and whispered. "You don’t trust him, do you?"

"There’s a lot of people here I don’t trust."

—

When you reached your destination, Murphy scrunched up his face as Addy parked the car.. "What’s that smell?"

"The undead and gasoline."

The group discussed the best way to draw the Z’s attention away from the pump that was drawing them in. Eventually, Cassandra pulled out a necklace that had a music box built inside it.

"That's great," Warren nodded. "You're our decoy."

"I'll go with her," the sketchy guy said.

"I’ll come too," you volunteered. Your gut instinct was telling you to not trust the two of them together.

Cassandra glared at you. "I don't need his help, or hers."

"No, you need cover. Take them." Warren paused and looked around before letting out a deep sigh. "Where'd that kid go?"

"He was here a minute ago," Doc said with a shrug.

You added, "His name is Ten Thousand."

"Well, he'd better be back by the time we're ready to go," the older woman frowned. "Change of plan. Astra, I need you to stay here with Doc, and Murphy." You opened your mouth to protest, but Warren cut you off. "No arguments."

—

"Wonder how it's going?" Doc asked. "I haven't heard anything blow up."

"Yet."

You kicked Murphy lightly in the thigh for his insensitive answer. "Don’t be such a negative jackass."

After watching Murphy and Doc play cards for a while, you turn to face the ‘saviour’ of the world. "How'd you get to be the savior of the human race?"

He let out a grunt, "you really wanna know?"

"Yeah."

"Truth is for a guy who's been wrongly convicted, I'm actually very civic-minded. I volunteered."

"So the doctors gave you the vaccine, and then they let the zombies bite you?" He nodded. You didn’t like him, but nobody deserves to have that happen to him. "How many times?"

"Eight."

You sighed, "I’m sorry that happened to you. It must have been awful."

He shrugged, "I blacked out."

"Shut up, you two," Doc said quietly. "We have some nosey neighbors."

As soon as you noticed the group of zombies that were starting to walk past the truck, you shuffled down in your seat, but Murphy started frantically yelling. "Call the others! Get us out of here!"

"Stop yelling." You frowned, "you're attracting them to us."

"Astra, keep him inside," Doc instructed you. "I’m going to draw them away."

"Wait, it’s too dangerous to go out there yourself!" You pointed out, "I’ll come with you."

The older man shook his head. "He might be our last chance. Whatever happens, keep him alive."

You watched as Doc disappeared into the crowd of Z’s. You just hoped he would come back.

—

You tried to try and calm Murphy, who was panicking loudly. The occasional zombie would bang into the car, but as long as you stayed out of sight and quiet they would hopefully pass by.

"Get us out of here!" Murphy yelled as the car began to move slightly.

"Stop being so loud, you're attracting them."

When a Z managed to get its finger through a crack in one of the windows, you leaped forward and cut its finger off, causing blood to spray onto the seats, and Murphy to be even louder.

Oh fuck. We are screwed.

In the distance, you could hear Doc shouting. "Ten thousand! Cover the car! Murphy and Astra are trapped inside."

Gunshots filled the air as the dead began to fall to the ground. You let out a sigh of relief. 10k, and Doc had your back.

"Hey, it's going!" you exclaimed, only to be cut off by the so-called saviour, who shoved you to the side and jumped into the driver's seat. You jolted back when he slammed his foot down. "Where the hell are we going!"

Losing control of the car, Murphy crashed into a wall. You let out a scream as you felt something cutting into your skin, before blood began dripping from your hand. "You stupid son of a bitch! You almost got me killed!"

The door to the truck swung open as Warren helped you out. You were vaguely aware of somebody helping Murphy to get away as well. You knew from the snarling noises coming from behind that the Z’s weren’t far behind. You made it back to the others just in time, as the truck you were just in exploded. At least it’s taken out some of the dead.

Warren raised her hand for everyone to be quiet. There was a ringing noise coming from a phone box. Garnett, who was the closest, answered it.

"Sergeant Charlie Garnett," he paused before continuing. "Please tell us where to drop him off - California? Hold on - That's not gonna happen," he turned back to face the group. "We need to go somewhere closer."

"Closer?" You asked questions.

What in the world have you gotten yourself into?

Shaking your head, you turned to face the other way. "Oh shit. Dead, coming right at us."

Addy and Mac held off the dead while the rest of you ran towards the only vehicle your group had left. "Wait, we can’t leave. We aren’t all here."

Doc looked around worried until he spotted 10k running. "Wait! Here comes the kid!"

"Found these."

You smiled as he handed Warren the small gas tanks he’d found.

As the group rode off, 10k’s smile fell from his face, and was quickly replaced by a frown. "What happened to you?"

You glared at Murphy. "I cut my hand with my blade when we crashed. I have some bandages in my bag, I’ll be fine."

Without saying anything, 10k began rummaging in your backpack and pulled out a first aid kit. He bandaged up your hand before returning the kit to you.

"Thanks."

He shrugged, "no problem."

You shifted awkwardly. You wanted to talk to him, but weren’t sure what to say.

10k took you by surprise when he leaned into you, and spoke quietly. "Can I ask you something?"

"Uh, yeah."

"What does Astra mean?"

A warm feeling spreads through you, "well…"

[soldrawss]

Sol i need headcanons for the brothers, please im begging you

BRUH I GOT YOU

I’m currently working on some little fics for them BUT I CAN GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS BECAUSE I’M DYING TO SHARE

(Warning, gets a little dark towards the middle, but overall fine. Sorry for the long read. I went for a DEEP dive on the Age Gap Au)

Ace was put into foster care 4 hours after his birth. His father died before he was born and his mother died during childbirth. Ace had nothing to his name but physical traits of the dead (Like his father's sharp eyes and his mother’s freckles) He grew up with a need to prove himself and to gain something that truly belonged to him all on his own.

Sabo was placed in foster care when he was 5 because of an altercation with his abusive and possesive parents, involving him having broken ribs and running away.

Ace and Sabo met in a halfway home for troubled youths when they were 6. (They both had issues with authority and past placements in foster homes, so they quickly bonded over that, and decided to stick together ever since)

Their bond was so strong that ‘honorary’ brothers didn’t really fit them. They were brothers. And they stuck together and stood up for one another like it was them against the world (which sometimes it was)

They would often run away from the halfway home they were at, trying to earn a living on their own on the streets, and often commit petty thefts in order to survive. 

These little runaway trips wouldn’t last long though, because they were always caught by Officer Garp, a police officer that happened to have a knack for catching little runaways.

However tough Garp acted though, he had an incredibly big soft spot for these two little brats that were only trying to make their lives better. These two kids, barely 8 years old, who had so much hatred for the world because of adults in their lives that failed them. Adults that hurt them, giving them scars and bruises on their hearts just as easily as the scars and bruises on the little frames. 

After a particular runaway incident, Ace breaks down and confesses about all the horrible placements he and Sabo had been in before. How social services always judge Ace’s sharp eyes and label in a problem child, how Sabo’s quick wit always get him in trouble with the adults, how they both have scars and bruises from past foster homes they were placed in, and that's why Ace and Sabo runaway. They’re tired of getting placed in bad homes. They’re tired of having adults try to separate them. Ace is all Sabo has and vice versa because that's the only person in the whole world who they trust to not hurt them. And Garp thinks that’s the last fucking straw.

Garp, much to Ace and Sabo’s but nobody else’s surprise, adopts both the boys, and takes them into his own home. Because dammit, if they’re just gonna runaway, they might as well stay with someone who will at least love them enough to always look for them and bring them back to a good home when they do.

And it’s weird at first, because Garp is the rough and loud and nosey officer that used to grab them by the scruffs of their shirts and drag them back to that awful halfway home kicking and screaming. But then it gets better. Because he still yells at them, but it’s with a tempered and fiercely protective love it when he does. He still grabs them, but it’s just to pull them into a rough bear hug that they fervently pretend they don’t like. And every dinner is spent with tears of laughter in their eyes and cheeks warm with delight at the stories he tells them. (They call him old man with affection and he’s their father figure even though they treat him like their grandpa.)

Sabo joins his school’s baseball team! Which is so freaking cool! He’s a really strong batter, can weild a bat like it’s an extension of his own arm, and Ace and Garp are always the loudest cheers on the bleachers every home run hit Sabo makes.

Garp makes Ace take up boxing, because the kid’s got a lot of pent-up rage and aggression, and he figures it’s a good constructive sort of therapy for the rowdy brat.

The two still get up to mischief every now and again, though. Nothing illegal, but Garp is still having to wrangle up his two little idiots before they do something stupid. (They get into a lot of fights with local gangs because they have smart mouths and are still a little reckless)

Garp has a biological son that Ace and Sabo never met due to Garp’s and Dragon’s strained relationship. Garp had always bad-mouthed him whenever his son was brought up, but it was always with words that had no heat behind them, and Sabo and Ace could tell there was a sadness behind his eyes whenever he looked at the picture of his son in his wallet.

The boys were 10 when they got the news of Dragon’s death a week after it happened. Garp had gotten the phone call when he and the boys were watching some late-night trash tv on the weekend, and he had all but strangled the phone in a grip that turned his knuckles white. He didn’t say what had killed his son, (he never did), but he had told the boys he needed to take care of something, told them to pack up some of their things, dropped them off at his friend Newgate’s house, and got the quickest flight out that night.

He came back 3 days later, and when he did, he had a tiny little baby with him.

Ace and Sabo were no strangers to babies. There was always some snot-nosed kid that would get dropped off at the halfway home (and then adopted that week, because everybody loved babies), and they were pretty sure this baby wasn’t gonna be any different. Because babies were loud and gross and never stopped crying, and Ace and Sabo were prepared for the absolute worse.

But then they stood over the baby’s crib to get a good look at him, and the baby looked back.

And smiled the biggest and happiest smile Ace and Sabo had ever seen.

And Garp had said “His name is Luffy,” and Ace and Sabo had been hooked around his little finger ever since. 

Luffy was barely 6 months old, and was a bundle of chubby cheeks and contagious giggles. With big brown chocolate colored eyes that melted all the sharp corners and edges of Ace’s and Sabo’s hearts.

Because Sabo and Ace were the same age, and neither one of them felt like the older or younger brother. They were equals in every way. But it was different with Luffy. Because Luffy was tiny, and soft and could barely wrap all 5 of his little fingers around one of theirs, and it hit Sabo and Ace like a bullet train because oh.

 Oh this is what it was like to be an older brother. This was what it was like to have a little brother. And Sabo and Ace have always looked out for each other, of course. But Luffy was something they had to protect fully and with their entire being. His smile, his laughter, his heart. All of it. Sabo and Ace knew all the horrible things in the world, knew all the hatred and fear and heartbreak the world could throw at you and it was like a silent promise to each other they never verbalized, that Luffy should and would never have to go through the things they went through. He would never feel unloved. He would never feel unwanted. He would never feel like he had to prove his worth or reason for existing. (He was worth more than any price anyone could give anyway)

Sabo and Ace stopped getting into trouble. They got good grades, excelled in their respective clubs, and didn’t give Garp any reason to chase them down in his old cop car and bring them home. (They were always at home anyway, giving Luffy piggyback rides and teaching him how to ride a bike and do one-handed handstands and cartwheels, and basking in the warmth that was Luffy’s endless love) And they lived in peace like that for 5 years.

Then the fire happened.

Garp was a good police officer and an even better Deputy Chief, and for almost 40 years, he served on the Foosha County Police Department. He had put away a lot of bad guys and saved a lot of people in the process and was an honored and highly respected man. However, this also made him a big target and earned him quite a few enemies. He was 3 weeks away from retirement and spending most of those weeks staying at home, playing with Luffy, and ingnoring the last of his paperwork left on his office desk.

When the fire broke out, Ace and Sabo had just turned the corner from the bus stop on their way home from school. They had seen the smoke, but didn’t know where it was coming from till they saw the towering blaze of fire that used to be their 2 story home and the group of neighbors surrounding the outside. 

They managed to push their way to the front, hands shaking and eyes wide and absolutely breathless, because that was their house! That was their house that was one fire and where was gramps?! Where was Luffy?!

The only thing Ace heard Sabo whisper among the roar of the fire and the loud murmur of people around them was “Do you hear that? That... crying?” Before Sabo surged forward.

Ace didn’t have time to reach out and stop him, and by the time he could, Sabo had already disappeared into the open front door, which was covered in flames. He had screamed out, tried to race in and follow his brother into the flames, but the neighbors around him were quicker than he was and pulled him back. 

Edward Newgate, one of their neighbors and close personal friend of Garp’s was in the crowd, and he was holding Ace to his chest with an arm like an iron bar, as he was on the phone with the local fire department. (Newgate was also the Foosha County fire chief, and was shouting at his lieutenants to “get your asses out here now!’) But Ace didn’t hear a word he was saying. All he could do was struggle to get out of the older man’s grip, reach out for his brother and best friend, and scream his lungs out.

What felt like hours went by, and Ace felt like his heart was shattering into a million piece, the glass shards falling around him, as he sobbed into Newgate's chest, thinking he had lost everything. His home. His family. His only purpose and reason for living.

And then some of the neighbors were shouting again, only this time in surprised alarm and Ace looked up with hazy eyes blurred by tears, to see something was coming out of the front door.

And it could only be Sabo. Ace knew it was him before he could even register it, and bolted out of Newgate's grips that had slacked at the surprise and towards his brother.

Ace met Sabo only a few feet from the door, Sabo collapsing into his arms, and Ace had to pull him the extra few feet away because the flames were still too much to bear even at that distance.

And Sabo’s skin was hot and red and covered in smoke and ash alike. There was a giant welting red burn against the side of Sabo’s face that looked like it would leave a scar forever, but Ace was having a hard time focusing on it because he was too bust focusing on the bundle of blankets that Sabo was desperately trying to push into Ace’s arms.

And Ace was already crying before, but he began crying even harder when he removed the fold of blankets to reveal a muffled Luffy, covered in ash but unharmed, crying his eyes out. 

Sabo had a coughing fit that rocked his whole body, and burns that looked like they'd hurt forever, but he was smiling when Ace broke into a sob, clutching both Sabo and Luffy into his chest.

The firefighters and paramedics came a few minutes later, and they had to physically pull Sabo and Luffy from Ace’s arms to check and treat them. Luffy only ended up with a few mild burns and cuts on his arms and legs and some burning of his throat from inhaling so much smoke, but Sabo had to be taken to the hospital immediately for his burns, especially for the one on his face. Ace pleaded to let them all ride in the same ambulence on the way to the hosipital, and held on to Sabo’s shirt sleeve with a grip that would take the end of the world and then some for him to let go.

Sabo had to get some surgery and treatment to save his left eye, but he was all in all ok, and Ace and Luffy were allowed to visit his hospital room for as long as they needed.

When Ace finally confronted Sabo on why he had ran into the house in the first place, it was on the first night of their hospital stay. Sabo had a giant white gauze wrapping half of his head, and he looked at Ace with tired blue eyes that looked a little fuzy, still a little drugged from all the medication he was on to ease the pain. 

And Ace felt bad about it, he really did, because Sabo didn’t derserve to be grilled on the matter. Not after he had sacrificed himself and saved Luffy. Their little brother. Their little brother who they wouldn’t even have anymore if it weren’t for Sabo. 

But Ace had to know. He was so mad and heartbroken and scared out of his mind when Sabo had rushed in without word or warning. Because they had lost Garp. They had almost lost Luffy. And Ace could have almost lost Sabo too.

But Luffy was tucked underneath Sabo’s arm on the hospital bed, and Sabo just smiled at Ace with a patience that only Ace and Luffy could pull out of him, and patted the other side for Ace to join them. Ace climbed onto the bed beside him, and even with the two 15-year-olds and one little 5 year old, the bed didn’t feel too small at all.

Sabo explained that he could hear crying from the door and he just moved. Knowing it was Luffy before his mind could really think about the implications behind that. He confessed how the flames hurt at first. Hurt so bad, and it was so hot, and everything, from the floor to the ceiling, was on fire and he could barely see anything through the smoke. But he could hear Luffy’s little rough and horse scream, coming from one of the back rooms that used to be Garp's office, and suddenly all Sabo could afford to think about was Luffy’s crying.

Sabo would tell a watered-down version of this story to the cops in the morning, because they were Garp's friend and companions, and they only really needed the broad details for their report anyway. 

He’ll tell a heroic version of this story, lacking any horrific graphics, to an older Luffy whenever the eternally curious kid wonders and asks about it.

But he only ever told the whole story right then on that night, one arm tight around his baby brother in a toothed and protective love, while the other one gripped his best friend's hands with shaking and bandaged fingers hard enough to leave bruising.

Garp was long dead when Sabo found him. The smell of his skin burning off is something that will haunt Sabo for the rest of his life. (Sometimes certain smells will set him off. Uncooked bacon is not allowed in the house anymore after one traumatic morning when Luffy is six. Campfires are viewed and enjoyed from a distance.)

He was lying on his stomach, clutching something to his chest. Sabo knew it was Luffy by the cries, bundled up in a few quilts and one of this office rugs, and Sabo knew he had to get them out of there before the smoke killed them off like it had a personal agenda against them.

The heat was unbearable, Sabo had confessed, but it was nothing compared to having to drag Luffy from underneath Garp’s grip. The old man was built like a brick house, sure, but even in death, his grip on Luffy, protecting Luffy, like he was daring the world to take anything away from him, was steadfast and almost unbbreakable. 

It was the hardest thing Sabo had ever had to make himself do.

He didn’t look at Garp’s face. His body was burned black and bloody and raw, and Sabo couldn’t live with himself if his memory of Garp’s face was replaced by anything other than with the one of his scruffy beard and the shit-eating grin that he always wore.

When he pulled Luffy out, he didn’t look back, and raced out of the house as fast as he could. Something along the way fell and smacked him in the face, knocking him down at one point, but Sabo couldn’t pay it much mind. He got back up, and continued towards the door. He could barely see, barely breathe, with all the smoke and the ash, and the pain from the fire was almost numbing against his skin, but he didn’t stop.

All he could think about was Luffy, still struggling and crying against the blankets wrapped tightly around him. Next thing he knew, he was outside, and looking up at Ace’s snot-covered face.

Ace had never seen Sabo cry for the almost 10 years he knew him. He didn’t cry when he was 7, and the Anderson family had called him a freak and had sent him back after a failed foster home placement. He didn’t cry when he was 9, and broke his arm falling out of the tree in their backyard that Garp had told him not to climb, so of course he had to climb it. And he didn’t even cry earlier that day, at 15, when he was off medication and feeling the full extent of his painful burns.

So when tears started pooling out of Sabo’s pale blue eyes, falling down his cheeks and staining the cotton white blanket he was under as he told his story, Ace pretended not to notice, wrapped an arm around Sabo’s shoulders, and held him like it was the only lifeline in the world. 

Garp’s funeral was held the following week. Closed casket. All the police departments in the county, and even some outside of it, showed up to give him a full send-off. Ace cried for both Sabo and himself. Sabo spoke a few words for the both of them. And Luffy stood between them, holding both their hands. They explained the night before that gramps was gone, but they don’t think the notion of death really got through to Luffy. He was crying, but only because Ace was crying, and when he asked ‘can gramps come out of the box to give me a hug before he goes away?’ everyone has to clench their teeth and hold their breaths to stop their hearts from breaking. Sabo kneeled down to wrap Luffy in a tight hug. Ace covered his face with his arm and cried harder

(They never bother asking Luffy about how the fire started, or what happened that day. Luffy doesn’t remember, and they don’t push it further. The truth isn’t as important as Luffy’s mentality is, but Garp’s old squad promises that they won’t rest until they get to the bottom of it. And as much as Ace and Sabo want justice and revenge, they have Luffy to think about, so they leave it up to the police)

Sabo and Ace are almost 16, and they suddenly have no parental figure, no home, no anything, and suddenly they’re faced with the horrible notion that even more can be taken from them when a blast from their past threatens to take Luffy away from them too.

They’re no stranger to the foster care system, so when social services show up at the motel they were renting with Garp’s savings, they feel their hearts drop to their stomach for fear of the very real possibility that Luffy will be placed in immediate foster care, and possibly, so would they. 

Ace and Sabo jump into action then, because no way, no fucking way, were they gonna lose Luffy. They had lost everything else. They almost did lose Luffy. They weren’t gonna risk that chance again.

Ace was only a few weeks older than Sabo. Sabo hadn’t paused a second to jump into the fire, risking life and limb, to protect what little they had. It was Ace’s turn to be the heroic older brother. And on the day he turned 16, Ace petitioned legal guardianship and parental rights for Sabo and Luffy.

And it was hard, because of course the courts felt sorry for him, the grandson of one of the best police chiefs in the county’s history, begging the courts to let him keep what little family he had left together. The courts wanted to give it to him, wanted to help him. But Luffy was a child. And Ace and Sabo were practically still kids themselves. Asking kids to raise themselves was something no one should ask them to do. 

But Ace and Sabo fought for it. Ace was 16, and Sabo would be 16 soon enough. They could get GED’s, no problem. They’d get jobs, get a little apartment near Luffy’s school, attend any parenting and child service meeting required of them. They’d buy all the necessities over again and they’d love Luffy where no other foster family could even compare. They’d do everything, everything and anything, to keep Luffy. To let them stay together.

With a couple of vouchers from Garp’s old police squad, including one from an overly enthusiastic Edward Newgate and one from the boy’s homeroom teacher, Makino, the courts ruled in Ace’s and Sabo’s favor, and Luffy was officially theirs until they proved that Luffy was better off somewhere else.

Ace and Sabo were never gonna let that happen.

They got a little 2 bedroom apartment a couple blocks from Luffy’s elementary. They quit school, and worked extra hard to earn their GED’s within the following months. (With the help of their old teachers and a few of their overly enthusiastic neighbors)

Ace got a job at the local fire department, as a rookie in training under Newgate.

Sabo got a job at the local news station, writing reports on top of his interning duties. 

Ace eventually got a motorcycle that same year, which scared Sabo half to death and delighted Luffy to no end. It was cheaper than a car, and easier to travel to and from work on, and no matter how hard Sabo tried, he couldn’t come up with a valid reason why Ace shouldn’t use it to their advantage. So Sabo made Ace promise to always wear a helmet when riding it, and that Luffy wasn’t allowed to ride it until he was much older. (Which Luffy pouted about to no end)

And it’s hard at times, both of them working overtime just to make enough to support themselves and keep them afloat, but it’s good, and it’s theirs.

Luffy makes a friend on his first day of first grade named Zoro Roronoa, another kid that lives just across the street from them, and when Ace and Sabo know they’re gonna be late in getting home, Luffy goes over there and hangs out until they can pick him up (Which is totally fine with Zoro’s father Koushirou, a kendo teacher and single father of 6-year-old Zoro and 9-year-old Kuina. Zoro has a bit of a personality problem and often has trouble making friends (because the child doesn’t see a need to) so when little bright-eyed and endlessly joyful Luffy pops into their life, Kushirou jumps at the chance to have him over as much as possible, because the two small children seem to bring out the best in each other, and are best friends attached at the hip) Sabo and Ace are eternally grateful to the kind man)

A few years go by, and Luffy is 8. Ace is still working at the fire station and is now legally allowed to join them on calls and emergencies. (Fire used to make Ace nervous, because he almost lost everything to it. Now he has a personal agenda with it, to make sure it doesn’t take anything from anyone else)

Sabo has moved up the ranks now, and when he turns 18, confronts Ace with a rare job opportunity he was offered.

“It’s a year-long internship for this really cool company that reports and delivers high-class diplomatic information around,” Sabo starts, rubbing the back of his head like he doesn’t know what to do with his hands. “I’d be working as like, a cool undercover spy with diplomatic immunity and a messenger bag. It’s not dangerous at all, and pays almost triple my paycheck now, which would really help us out. But it’s overseas, and I’d be gone for a whole year. You’d be raising Luffy all by yourself, birthdays and holidays and skinned knees, with just the two of you, so say the word, and I’ll totally turn this job down on the spot.”

And it’s scary to Ace. Because he hasn’t been alone since he was 6 years old, and he can’t possibly remember a time when Sabo hadn’t been by his side. His best friend and brother. It was always the two of them. Two little runaways that found a home, lost that home, and then built a new home all on their own despite it all. And neither of them had ever been away from Luffy for longer than a weekend, so Ace was sure it would kill Sabo to be away from them for so long.

But he also knew that Sabo was only playing this off like it wasn’t a big deal, when in fact it was the job opportunity of a lifetime for someone like Sabo, a kid who breathed adventure and freedom with every breath. And that when he talked about it, his eyes sparkled with a joy that Ace would hate himself forever for taking it away. 

Sabo was giving Ace the choice, and Ace knew that Sabo would go along with whatever Ace decided without a second thought or complaint. But Ace knew that Sabo would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn't go, so he slugged Sabo in the arm, gave him his best shit-eating, confident grin, (the kind he used to give him right before they were about to steal some food as kids, or about to get into a fight when they were teens) and said, “You let me have a motorcycle. The least I can do is let you go road tripping abroad.”

Because Ace and Luffy would be fine. They’d miss Sabo like crazy, and Ace was pretty sure Sabo was like, 90% of his impulse control, but they’d survive. Sabo had the burn marks to prove how far he was willing to go for their family, and Ace had never thanked him for that. Ace was never gonna live that down, and was going to spend the rest of his life making it up to both Sabo AND Luffy, and prove just how good of an older brother he could be. This was the least he could do for them.

[grayson-dolans-dangly-earring]

Killer Kings (E.D. & G.D.) PART ONE

DISCLAIMER: this fic is violent and graphic and could be triggering so pls don’t read it if you’re squeamish about blood and murder and sex!!!

THIS IS SIMPLY AN AU AND I WOULD NEVER THINK THE TWINS WOULD DO THINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THEM I JUST WANTED TO WRITE SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND HERE IT IS.

@nostalgicbailey @joeyskinnyleg @notanotherdolantwinsblog @dandydolans

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Ethan was always a beautiful sight to behold. He was always gorgeous, no matter what he was doing. But he looked almost ethereal when he was covered in blood, tan skin slick with it and glistening in the sun. He knew how I felt about him so he wasn’t exactly shocked that I was leaning on the doorway admiring him as he used a hammer to repeatedly bash the skull of his latest victim. Watching him attempt to drown her in our bathtub earlier was quite a production but she just wouldn’t die and we couldn’t have that, now could we? As he moved along with his dismemberment process, the sickening cracks of bones breaking echoed in the room, sending a shiver up my spine. I bit my lip trying to contain a moan as he moved on from the hammer and began cutting away at the girl’s chest cavity. “C’mere sweetheart.” Ethan called to me from where he was kneeling on the floor.

I hurried over to him and sank to my knees at his side. His big hands slid into the gash he made in her chest and got a good hold on where he had split her sternum. He yanked his hands apart in opposite directions, effectively opening her rib cage and exposing her heart and lungs. “Knife.” He murmured. I rummaged around in the tool box next to me, retrieving the big kabar knife and placing it in his palm. I watched, enraptured as Ethan carefully cut the poor girl’s heart out. He gingerly tugged it out of the gaping hole in her chest and turned towards me. He placed the still warm heart in my hands and touched his bloody fingers to my cheek. “She’ll never bother you again sweetheart. You’ll never have to worry about her flirting with me at work anymore. I told you I’d prove to you she isn’t important to me. Everything is okay now. I did good right? You’re happy? I just want you to be happy, baby.” He asked, eyes wide and glittering. I turned my head and sucked his thumb into my mouth. He groaned as I licked the blood from his finger and pulled off with a pop. I leaned into his touch, melting against him. “I’m always happy with you baby. I promise. You did good. You did what I asked. That makes me happy.” I said smiling softly. He sighed and his eyes fluttered shut before he leaned forward and rested his forehead on mine. “I love you sweetheart.” Ethan mumbled. “I love you too darling.” I answered.

Ethan stood up and started peeling off his clothes, discarding them on top of the body until he stood naked before me. He towered over me as he stood beside me. His hands, arms, and face were splattered in blood but the rest of him was untouched. He turned his face towards the window and the sunlight spilled over his face, highlighting his angular features. I ran my hands up his thighs and let my fingers trace the tattoos that littered his thighs. My mouth watered at the idea of sucking him off and as if he could read my mind, he smiled down at me. “No no sweetheart. Not yet. Later, I promise. Now strip. I have to roll everything up in the plastic sheet and bury her.” He said, extending a hand to help me stand up. I took his hand and stood, quickly stripping off my now bloodied clothes. Ethan’s eyes scanned my body and I didn’t have to look to know he was hard. “Alright get back in the house before I fuck you raw right here on top of Karen’s dead body. And you know I mean it.” He said, smacking my ass as I made my way out of the shed. “And put that that dress I like on! We’re going out tonight!” He shouted from the shed. I smiled as I leisurely strolled across the yard and into the house.

A few years back, I met Ethan in a pretty seedy S&M sex club. We got to talking and quickly came to realize that we both had rather...unconventional interests. I found out he was already living out his dreams of cold blooded murder with his equally beautiful twin brother Grayson. But one night Grayson had gotten too angry too quickly and attacked a man in an alleyway, killing him where he stood. He stuck around too long to relish in the kill and the police nabbed him. He had been in prison ever since. I went along with Ethan for his visits and me and Gray got along swimmingly. I spoke to him on the phone often when he would call the house looking for Ethan and we had become very close which i knew pleased Ethan to no end. Although I hadn’t gotten to know Grayson outside of the visitor’s room of the prison and on the phone, I knew we had to bring him home with us when he got out. I had grown to love him almost as much as I loved Ethan and I know Ethan wanted Grayson at home with us more than anything. After Ethan and I had the idea of bringing Gray home to live with us eventually, we bought a house in the middle of nowhere and we also purchased the surrounding land. No one wants nosey neighbors when you’re into what me and the twins are into.

I slipped into a nice white lingerie set and then the dress Ethan wanted me to wear and waited for him to come back to the house. He entered our bedroom a short while later and headed for the bathroom to take a shower. When he emerged he pulled a nice grey button up out of the closet along with black dress pants. He quickly dressed himself and began to explain the plans for the evening. “I want to play tonight. I want to go back to the club we met at and find someone. A boy, a girl. Doesn’t matter. I want you to seduce them, and I want to bring them home. Then, I want you to kill them. And I want to watch you.” He said, weaving a fairytale with his word. I shivered with anticipation and my body was tingling. I nodded furiously letting him know I was more than ready for that plan.

When we got to the club I immediately spotted a boy who looked so new to what was going on. I watched him from the bar as his eyes moved rapidly, watching the couple on front of him absolutely ravage each other on the floor. He was so pretty and probably much younger than most of the people there. “Him. I want him.” I whispered to Ethan. “Then let’s go get him.” Ethan responded with a wicked grin. We moved through the crowd to the bench where the boy was sitting. Ethan sat on his right and I sat on his left. He looked shocked and when I touched his shoulder he was trembling. “Hello baby boy. I’m y/n and this is my boyfriend Ethan. What’s your name?” I purred into his ear. “M-my name is Zeke.” He stuttered. “First time huh?” Ethan said, placing his hand on Zeke’s thigh. He nodded, wide eyed and nervous. “Don’t worry. We can show you the ropes.” I said with a smile. I used my index finger to turn his head towards me and leaned it, planting a gentle kiss to his lips. Zeke’s eyes fluttered shut. We kissed for another minute or so until Zeke’s head fell back and a moan spilled from his lips. I looked over and watched as Ethan sucked a deep purple mark into Zeke’s neck. I clenched my thighs together trying to alleviate the throbbing in my core. I watched intently as Ethan’s tongue swept over the young boy’s skin and his teeth grazed Zeke’s earlobe. “Do you want to get out of here baby boy?” I whispered to him. Zeke nodded and said he needed to use the bathroom and would meet us outside.

We made our way out to the parking lot to wait for Zeke. “Y/N I don’t think I can wait anymore. We have to do this now.” Ethan said, furiously scratching the back of his neck. “Ethan you need to relax. We do this at home or we don’t do it at all, got it?” I hissed. “YOU DON’T GET IT! I NEED THIS!” Ethan shouted. Before he could register what was happening, I cocked my hand back and struck him right across the face. He stumbled back into the brick wall of the building and I got up in his face. “Ethan Grant you shut your fucking mouth. Don’t you EVER speak to me like that again or YOU will be the one wrapped in a plastic tarp and buried in a field. You’re being irrational. THIS behavior is what got Grayson locked up. You two couldn’t control your fucking tempers and you got sloppy. You let him fuck everything up and now he’s behind bars so unless you plan on being his cellmate any time soon, you’re going to shut the fuck up, get Zeke back to the house, and then you can have your fun.” I growled. He stood there, a look of shock frozen on his face. “For gods sake, do I have to do everything around here?! GO!” I hissed at him and he hurried off to get the car.

Zeke came out of the club and spotted me and made his way towards me while Ethan went to get the car. Zeke seemed more at ease and sure of himself as he slipped his arms around my waist. “Hey beautiful where’d your boyfriend go?” He asked. “He went to get the car baby boy. We’ll be home soon enough I promise.” I said looking up at him. “Mmm good. You better be careful, I might steal him away from you.” Zeke joked. But I didn’t laugh. I got angry. Even though i subconsciously knew he wasn’t, the jealous monster in my brain started to view Zeke as a threat. I pushed down the bubbling anger and forced a smile. “Oh honey let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I said, faking a laugh. Just then, Ethan pulled up with the car. I leaned up on my toes and planted a kiss on Zeke’s lips. “Come on baby. Let’s have some fun.” I said pulling him to the car.

The ride home was more than exciting. I rode in the backseat with Zeke while Ethan drove. Zeke was all over me, kissing and licking and sucking all over my neck and chest. It was getting hot in the car but I couldn’t care less. My eyes flickered up to the rear view mirror and my eyes locked with Ethan’s. He was biting his lip and watching us in the backseat. Zeke’s teeth grazed my neck and I moaned. Ethan revved the engine and took off the second the light we were at, turned green.

When we got home Zeke and I tumbled out of the back seat and Ethan followed us into the house. I led Zeke up to the spare bedroom and pushed him down on to the bed and Ethan sat down in the chair near the bed. I bit my lip as I watched him spread his legs. He took out his phone and started playing some music on the bluetooth speaker. I focused my attention on Zeke. I wanted nothing more than to sink a blade into him but not until I got my man nice and worked up from a good show. I straddled Zeke’s lap and pulled my dress off, revealing my white lingerie. I heard Ethan groan across the room. “Sweetheart you know I love that set. Those crotchless panties are my favorite.” He grumbled from the chair. I grinned over my shoulder at him. I turned back to Zeke and leaned down to kiss him roughly. I ground down against his erection and his eyes slammed shut. “Fuck that feels good.” He moaned. “Wait till you get inside me.” I whispered in his ear. “Get him undressed and ride him baby.” Ethan commanded from the chair. I made quick work of Zeke’s clothes, and without warning I positioned him at my entrance and sank down on his cock. A moan spilled from his lips and he bucked his hips up into me. “That’s it sweetheart. Show him what you can do.” Ethan directed. I was moving frantically, eager to get to the real fun. “Ya know, I thought it was funny earlier.” I said. “Huh?” Zeke said, disoriented. I continued bouncing up and down on him. “Oh you remember, silly. Outside the club? When you said I should “be careful” because you might “take Ethan away from me”. Remember that?” I asked, rage fueling my movements. “I uh, I guess so? It was just a joke.” Zeke said, confused by my words. I slid my hand under the pillow near me,my finger curling around the handle of my knife. “Yeah? Well, I wasn’t laughing.” I growled. I quickly pulled the knife out and with slashed Zeke’s throat. Blood sprayed all over me and the bed, staining the sheets and my lingerie. He was gurgling and making feeble attempts to shove me away. “Oh sweetie do you think you’re gonna make it out of here alive?” I asked, lower lip poking out in a fake pout. I slammed the blade into his chest, still moving up and down on his dick. “Fuck! This adrenaline high has really got me goin’!” I screamed, slashing at any of Zeke’s exposed skin. “Yes baby! That’s my girl!” Ethan bellowed, making his way to the bed. “Alright that’s enough. Up. Get off his dick. You cum for me only, you know that.” Ethan ordered and I did as I was told. Zeke was still coherent, gasping for air and choking on blood, weeping like a baby. Ethan leaned over him and laid his hand on Zeke’s cheek. “Sorry honey. It’s time to go.” He whispered, placing a gentle kiss on Zeke’s forehead before harshly twisting his head and effectively snapping his neck.

I rolled over on my hands and knees and wiggled my ass in Ethan’s direction. “You wanna fuck me Daddy? C’mon, I know you want me.” I called to him over my shoulder with a grin. Ethan landed a hard slap to my ass before he responded. “You know Daddy wants to fuck you. You did so good for me baby. You know I love when you put on a show for me.” He rumbled. I could hear his clothes hitting the floor and seconds later he was behind me, lining up, and slamming his cock into me. “Ah! Yes! Right there! Fuck that feels so good!” I cried beneath him. “Oh my god. Your pussy is so tight sweetheart I might not last too long if you keep tightening up like that. Fuck, it’s so goddamn wet.” Ethan growled as he continued to slam in and out of me, hands gripping my hips so tight I knew I’d have bruises. I felt like I was floating. My body was singing with pleasure and the rush of the kill was still coursing through me. Ethan’s thrusts were so rough and punishing that the bed started moving, causing Zeke’s corpse to slide off the bed and hit the ground with a sick thud. This prompted Ethan to speed up and my eyes rolled back. His hand slid up the back of my neck and into my hair where he grabbed a thick section and cranked my head back. A guttural moan tore from his throat as my walls clamped around him when I came. “Yeah that’s right baby. Come on. Give it to me. You want me to come inside you? Huh? Is that what you want?” He growled, still slamming into my slick channel. “Yes! Give it all to me! Cum inside me please!” I whined and I could feel him pulse inside me. Ethan’s thrusts began to falter the closer he got to his orgasm. After a few my strokes I felt him release inside me, hot and sticky and thick. He rolled off me and his chest heaved as he breathed. My knees gave out from under me and I swallowed thickly, mouth dry from all the physical activity.

“You’re cleaning this up.” I mumbled. “No I’m not! You killed him you clean it!” Ethan griped, propping himself up on his elbows. “Umm if I recall correctly, this was your idea Dolan so you can clean it. I’m gonna go take a long hot shower.” I said with a grin as I crawled off the bed and sauntering to the bathroom throwing him a grin over my shoulder.

Ethan leapt off the bed and quickly made his was to me, shoving me up against the bathroom door. “Mmm baby help me clean up and I’ll take that shower with you.” He muttered into my skin as his lips peppered my neck with wet kisses. “I don’t know...I don’t think that’s an enticing enough offer.” I moaned as my eyes slipped shut. “I’ll do that thing you like with the pulsating shower head,” my knees grew weak at that. “And then I’ll carry you to our bedroom and rub you down with that black cherry vanilla lotion you love.” Ethan said biting down on the juncture of my neck and shoulder. I shivered and moaned out a yes and he pulled away from me. “Alright sweetheart lets clean this up.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the guest room.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning I woke up to the sound of the house phone ringing downstairs. Not wanting to wake Ethan, I slipped out of bed and rushed down the stairs to answer it. I clicked the button and was greeted with an automated message notifying me that I was receiving a collect call. I agreed knowing exactly who it was and waited. “Hello.” a gruff voice sounded from the other line. “Hello Grayson. How are you?” I replied flopping on to the couch with a grin. “Hey peach. I’m surprised you’re up this early.” Grayson said and I could hear the grin in his voice. “Mmm I got a lot of rest last night after your brother wore me out.” I flirted, biting my lip. “Oh yeah? He doin’ ya good? He fuckin’ you right peach?” He groaned. “Only every day.” I said back. “Good. I taught him everything he knows.” He said with a chuckle. “Oh yeah? ‘Cause he’s good. He’s real good.” I said, sliding my hand down my torso. “He’s not as good as his teacher.” Grayson mumbled into the receiver. “Hmm...I don’t know if I believe you...Daddy. You’ll have to show me sometime.” I moaned as my fingers slipped under the elastic band of my panties. “You want a free trial peach? ‘Cause I’ll give it to you.” Grayson growled. “Y-yes please.” I whimpered.

“Slip your fingers into your panties. Run two of them through your folds and swirl them around your entrance to get it wet.” Grayson instructed. You did as he said, moans falling from your lips. “Good girl. Now take those two fingers and rub your clit in tight little circles. Just like I would.” His voice was even but you knew he was straining to keep it together. “Mmm feels so good Daddy. I need more.” I keened.

“Alright peach. Take those two fingers and put them inside you. Thrust them in and out.” He could hear the wet sucking sounds from his end and continued. “Good. Faster. Thrust them faster...add another finger.” You did as he said and a loud sound ripped from your mouth. “Yes. Keep those fingers inside and rub your g-spot.” He said. “I-I can’t. I’m too sensitive!” I whined. “Yes you can. And you’ll do what I say or you won’t cum. Understood?” He growled. You began to follow his instructions again and your head flew back into the fluffy arm of the couch. “Now thrust them again, in and out...good...faster...does that feel good? Yeah? Imagine its my cock. Fuck. I’d be tearing that pussy up if I was there.” Grayson’s voice was working you up and you were so close to the edge. “Please! Can I cum? Please let me cum!” I cried into the phone, limbs shaking with the effort to keep my orgasm at bay until he told me I could let go.

“Go ahead baby. Cum for Daddy. Lemme hear you.” He coaxed. “Fuck! Grayson oh my god!” I shouted as I came all over my fingers, body falling limp against the couch. “Thanks Gray.” I said with a chuckle, lightheaded from my orgasm. “Yeah. You can thank me by sucking my cock the next time you see me. Tell Ethan to pick me up from this hell hole at three p.m. next Thursday. I’m comin’ home peach.” My jaw dropped open as the line went dead. A smile appeared on my face as I heard Ethan’s footsteps coming down the stairs.

Grayson was coming home.