ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴜɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇꜱ // ᴏɴᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ

Chapter 15

Ace furrowed his brows and frowned, his arms crossed against his chest as he sat down in the worn out couch, staring at whatever he could stare at. He doesn't knew much about the place outside this forest—not even the Foosha Village. He only knew bits of information, because he literally grew up in this place since he got born. Even though he could endure leaving in here, as long as Sabo and Luffy is here, that is, that doesn't mean he wanted to stay in here forever. He wanted to learn, to understand what it's like to get outside this place that he somehow feel like a cage. He wanted to become something more, something's to surpass his father so he wouldn't just become the kid they knew as the spawn of devil—He wants to be recognized as himself, not because he's the son of the worst criminal in the world.

But... Is this really the time to leave?

"You're thinking about her offer, aren't you?"

Ace sigh as he looked at Sabo. Do they really want to leave? Ace knew that he do, and Luffy—out of the three of them— immediately agree without a second thought. The younger one is surely thirsty for adventure, and it's all too clear to Ace. However, Ace doesn't knew if Sabo wanted to leave, and if they could leave Dadan that easily. After all, Dadan may be harsh to them, but Ace wouldn't deny that he saw her as a mother-figure and, despite his harsh words and rude criticizing words towards the man-like caretakers, he loved her. The gratitude, The patience— Ace respect her more than anyone. I mean, who has the patient to take care of him from infant till now?

"I think I want to leave this place." He suddenly said to Sabo, causing the blonde to raised an amused eyebrow.

"You think?"

"Well..." Ace started, scratching the side of his head. " I'm not sure if you do, too. We won't leave you here, and if you don't want to leave, we'll all stay. After all, brothers stick together."

Sabo smiled, "I could say that there's some truth in there."

"Some?"

"You're the one who said that we doesn't know what future has for us. We might go our separate ways, just like you said before. And I agree. However, you don't really have to worry about leaving me here."

Ace's eyes widen when he realized what Sabo meant. The blonde stared straight at him without any hint of joking or hesitation.

Ace grinned "You mean?"

Sabo nodded, "Yeah. I also wanted to know what it's like outside this place." Just the thought of it made him feel the excitement, "It's making me excited, thinking about going into the place I've never been to."

"Yeah, me too." Ace said, grinning as he look at the ceiling. " I'm also excited."

____

"So, does your brothers have any certain preferences in food?" Reina asked while skillfully cutting the vegetables.

"Pre...Pre what?" Luffy tilted his head, his question causing Reina to stopped as she turned and face the younger child.

"It's Preferences, Luffy." She chuckled after seeing Luffy's puzzled gaze. "Don't think about it too much. I'm just asking what kind of food do you guys like..." Then she saw Luffy poking the carrots as she laugh. " And I'm quite positive it's not vegetables at all."

"We like Meat!" Luffy chirped happily, causing Reina to laugh more.

"Meat, of course." Then she turned back and continue cutting. "Is meat really your favorite? Nothing else?"

Luffy tilted his head, " Well, I've never tasted anything else before. We always eat meat."

Reina nodded in understanding, placing the cut potatoes in a bowl before she smiled. "Well, aside from meat, is there some kind of food you guys like?" She insisted, wanting to know more.

Luffy furrowed his eyebrows cutely, placing his finger in his forehead while he thinks deeply for an answer. Reina smiled, not saying anything while she let him think. If there's really nothing else, and meat is the only food he knows that all three of them like, then she would just try to cook various dishes for them to try.

Suddenly, Luffy grinned. "Oh! I remember one!"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Ramen!"

Reina quirked a brow upward, "Ramen?"

It wasn't uncommon, and Reina knew how much that food appeals. After all, she herself likes to eat it, at home or outside. But the thing that makes her Eyebrow meets and her gaze narrowed is that— Where did the three of them got to eat one?

Luffy nodded, " Yeah! Ramen! Ace brought us in a restaurant and we ate lots of delicious ramen there! We didn't finished eating because the owner finds out who we are and he chased us. We managed to get away though!"

So that's how it is.

Reina's eyes slightly widen in amusement, seeing how Luffy actually told her that they dine-dashed, with proudness no less. She shakes her head and chuckled. "Sounds like a lot of fun."

"Yeah it was really fun! The guards was so slow they can't even catched us!" Luffy proudly beamed.

"Well, it would be way more shocking if they actually managed to catched any of you three." She said, clearly remembering Luffy's boasting about his brothers. They are clearly not normal, and Reina deemed them as Special.

Luffy felt way more happier. Everyone could clearly see it because he obviously grins and laugh more often than usual, even jumping around excitedly around Reina.

"When are we leaving, nee-chan?" Luffy suddenly asked.

Reina paused, "Let your brothers decide first, Luffy. If they accept, we'll leave tommorow morning."

"But Ace and Sabo want to go, too..? " Luffy said, but his voice sounded a little unsure causing Reina to chuckle.

"Won't you miss Dadan and the others?"

"I would!"

"Then why are you so eager to leave? Don't you want to spend some time with them first?"

"I can't be the Mafia King if I stayed here!"

Reina entirely paused at that, glancing behind her to see Luffy pouting childishly. She clearly forgot that kind of huge ambition that Luffy has, and she blamed Shanks for that. If it weren't for the Red-hair, Luffy could have a way more normal life. Being part of a Mafia is already hard—and it has too many affairs to begin with. One can't just randomly become a Mafia.

"Well, I'll talked to Dadan  about my plans, but I need your brothers approval first." Reina said, facing her back against Luffy as a confident yet dark grin made it's way into her lips. Her gaze were shadowed by her hair as she continue her work.

She knew it won't become an easy talk, but no worry—She'll made it easy.