They'd stayed cuddled on the sofa for a good thirty minutes. The mutual confession felt like it hadn't even happened; they'd continued to talk normally. Luffy was asleep now, and Ace read a magazine over his head. Every now and then he risked losing his place to smile.

It was morning, Ace had just come back from his night classes. Of course he'd napped again before he left, but this time he was beat. Ace walked himself down the hallway to his open bedroom door.

Ace had almost forgot he'd transferred Luffy to his own bed; the sound of familiar light snoring reminded him. They slept together a lot when they were younger, though just until a few hours ago Ace purposely refrained from sleeping in the same bed with Luffy for years. Earlier, ashamedly, though gleefully, he'd kissed an unconscious Luffy a few times.

Luffy was sprawled out across Ace's bed, Ace got in with him. Something about being close to Luffy made Ace warm and happy.

note: short (and the end). more explanation on last chapter's note: they've been calling and referring to themselves as brothers in this universe like in the original. barely anyone knows they're not related by blood, but after this ace only calls luffy 'boyfriend' and vice versa