Ace quickly dropped the hem of your shirt, letting it cover your stomach as the man let himself in and began to shed out of his uniform distractedly.

"G-Gramps, you said you weren't gonna be back until Tuesday" Luffy curled up on his stomach, most likely hiding the bulging formed from Katakuri's panicked thrashing.

Luckily for you, Cracker was the sheer opposite and went frozen in fear.

Danger- he's dangerous, we need to leave

"Ah, well-" the police officer stopped in his tracks, coming face to face with Ace's blatant glare of hate.

"Ace, so you've finally decided to visit your grandfather huh?" Not even giving him as much as a nod, the older raven icily made his way to the kitchen.

Once he made a good distance between him and the elder, the freckled man spoke, "what are you doing here old man?" His voice was uncharacteristically cold and venomous.

Snorting at the question, you stiffened seeing the man glance at you and wave, "bah, the damn symbiote had the poor victim shoot his guts out-" you nearly gagged in mortification of the bluntness, and Cracker pulsed at the news, "probably got away to infect another poor soul, but we lost the scent so we were sent off duty until further notice"

They died together..

Both you and Cracker were thinking the same thing, hell the fact that the guy shot his stomach instead of his head- that was a double suicide.

"It's better to go together, instead of one having to live without the other- eh?" Unfortunately the officer heard that, "what was that? What was that you just said (Y/N)?"

You tensed up, "uhh.."

"You should be ashamed of yourself" both you and Luffy turned to see Ace glaring daggers into the old man, leaning heavily on the oak table.

"Ace.."

"You cornered the two of them into suicide!"

"Ace!"

"Why can't you understand they're not out to get us?! They're not evil!"

"Ace!" Slamming his arm violently in the wall, both you and Luffy instinctively wrapped your arms protectively over your guts and blocked them with your knees.

You wouldn't let them have him.

"How many times have I told you?! Those damn parasites are dangerous! You better stop spewing this hogwash nonsense!-" Turning to the two of you with a dreadful look, your soul nearly descended.

"-Before you go and corrupt them too! I'm doing my best to protect my family from those vermin!"

"That 'vermin' was my family!"

Everything got awkwardly quiet after that.

(Y/N).. we want to leave

Not wanting to subject Cracker to this anymore, thinking on your feet, you grabbed Luffy's wrist and got up.

"Me and Luffy are gonna go sleepover at my place- uh bye"

Garp looked like he wanted to object, but then he glanced at Ace- who was giving the two of you an apologetic look from underneath his bangs, as if he thought this was his fault, and looked as if he decided upon something.

"Yes, you and Luffy should go hang about somewhere else- and you" pointing at Ace, the older teen scowled defiantly, "will stay here"

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"I'm so sorry, Cracker, (Y/N)" shaking away the raven's apologies, you gave him a weak smile, "it's not your fault Luffy, if anything, it makes me salty knowing you live with that man"

Quite the unlucky one

Rubbing your belly soothingly, Cracker leaned into the sensation as you arrived to your apartment.

"Don't be afraid to ever come stay the night, okay Luffy?" Nodding with a smile, you always felt almost envious of how quickly he got over things.

"Wooow, it's so cozy in here" you blinked confusedly at that.

"Cozy?" You felt the world around the two of you become still, seeing the teenager's eyes gleam with wisdom that was well beyond his years, "yeah, this place is so much warmer than that house"

"Oh.. wanna watch some Wall-E?" Luffy nodded happily at the subject change.

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The movie was just around the part where Wall-E and Eva were dancing in space when Luffy grinned at the screen.

"Katakuri.." simply watching from the sidelines on the couch, you remained silent, watching Katakuri ooze out of Luffy's chest- and you had to make a double-take, just now being reminded how much bigger the Kiseichu was.

Katakuri was easily near three times Luffy's size- it always made you think hard wondering how the other could possibly fit in Luffy without stretching his organs to their limits- but you didn't particularly like opening that can of worms so you kept it shut.

Unlike Cracker, he was a deep burgundy, and didn't have any issues with exposing himself whenever Luffy asked.

Blinking out of the rabbit hole your mind leaped down, you were brought back to the world by the muddling feeling of Cracker swimming through your nerves.

Looking to Luffy, you felt a numb smile mold onto your face whilst watching the boy and his partner serenely dance along to the music from the movie- it was almost cheesily romantic.

"Cracker... what are you.. doing?" It wasn't often the Kiseichu went directly into your nervous system unless it was urgent.

Comforting you

You didn't realize it, but both you and Luffy were uncharacteristically silent, and that worried both your Kiseichus.

"Mmn" laying yourself onto the couch, you focused on the feeling of Cracker drifting throughout your body, purposefully triggering nerves along the way to keep your attention.

Both you and the Strawhat boy think too much

You hummed, "you're probably.. right"

Those humans can never hurt us

"With the way they're going, I guess you're kinda right.."

We are not weak enough to let the men in lab coats take us away

"Mmn..  yeah, that's true.."

We can protect ourselves

"Yeah.. we can.." feeling a relieved smile rest on your cheeks, you surrendered to a peaceful sleep free of stress.

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Waking up to the droning of static, you ripped an eye open to squint at the bright fuzzy screen.

"Oh.. shit" reaching for the remote, Cracker groaned.

Go back to sleep

Nodding with him, you flicked off the television, tossed away the remote, snuggled back into a comfy dent in the couch and began to drift off again..

Ringg Ringg Ringg Ringg

"Ugggggggh" both you and Cracker moaned out in exasperation hearing the distant phone in the kitchen screech out for acknowledgement.

Ignore it, let it ring

"But what if it's an emergency?" Lazily dragging your limp body off the comfortable couch, ultimately you were wide awake once you made it to the phone.

"Who the fuck is this?" Hearing a familiar chuckle on the other side, your annoyance immediately traded places with anticipation.

"Ace! Are you okay?" Just knowing the other nodded his head even though you couldn't see him, you stayed silent.

"Yeah, the old man just tried to 'beat the corruption out of me' damn geezer's getting old, his punches hardly bruised this time" deflating in relief, you leaned on the refrigerator calmly.

"Oh, me and Luffy were worried about you last night- Cracker and Katakuri actually had to distract us, apparently we were pretty freaked out.." the freckled teen went silent on the other side.

"Katakuri had to comfort Luffy last night..?"

You stalled, confused at the tone in his voice until- "wait- oh shit!"

Rushing to look all over the living room, and feeling mortification drop into your gut at not finding the teen- you darted towards your room with the phone still in your hands.

"Shit- shit- shit" flinging the door open, you immediately slammed it shut again seeing Luffy passed out on the now busted up bed, "fuck!"

Ace laughed aloud, "s-sorry (Y/N)! I'll treat you to some cafeteria food at school on Tuesday!"

Squeezing the phone, you angrily glared down at the device, "oh yes you do! Now I need to buy a new bed again because of you!" Blushing furiously at Ace's hysterical laughter, you hung up on him.

Katakuri and that Strawhat boy are quite close..

Quirking a brow at the almost longing sensation in his tone, you were about to ask him about it until your stomach growled.

We are hungry

Of course.