A/N: I saw a picture on Pixiv. And scenes popped up. I probably won't take this seriously enough to continue it. It'll probably turn into a weird fic because I listened to this song (Grace and the Nocturnals) on repeat one day, while lifting furiously.

Chapter One:

One Pill Makes You Larger

The sun was bright overhead, insects chirring noisily in the trees. The streets were peacefully calm, and traffic was light. The sidewalks were busy with meandering pedestrians, with open markets on full display. The apartment complex was grand, beautiful, and made for money. It gave its occupants enough room to park, and spectacular sound proof walls. It was also secure in that the halls, stairways, and the outside fenced in park were safe for the occupants' children to wander freely.

It was after school, and Law was walking the stairway up to his apartment. Backpack on and a knee freshly bandaged after an intense game of kickball, he was holding the latest edition of a biweekly manga series in one hand and a large Mountain Dew in the other. He was a serious kid, with too serious amber eyes and a frown. He wore his animal fur hat too low, and had to lift his chin high if he had to look up and address anybody, giving him a snobby appearance. Most of the time, he was spewing angry words and giving defiant expressions, which made him less than popular with his peers, but he didn't care. If he had to be alone at the end of the day, at least he had his manga and anime to entertain him.

"For lunch only!" Corazon had exclaimed that morning, waving around a twenty dollar bill. He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his wavy hair sticking up at the back of his head, and he was wearing his favorite heart shirt with white shorts.

"Buy yourself dinner, because we'll be home late," his brother, Doflamingo, had said grimly. His blond hair was spiky, his black shirt and red capris garish, and he had a suspicious sauce stain on the corner of his mouth. He barely looked up from his cellphone. "Oh, and I ate all the Hot Pockets for breakfast."

"I hope you both die in a car crash," Law had told them, leaving the apartment with a slam of the door.

Law slurped loudly on his soda, rounding a landing and walking up, eager to sit down, finish his homework, and read the latest adventures of Pike-Bike Man. Then he stopped short because the stairs were blocked by a girl with a short ponytail and a flowy white shirt, capri pants, and a sick pair of boots. What made it even more awkward was the Easy Bake oven she was playing with.

When she turned to look at him, her wide blue eyes widened, and she formed an 'o' with her mouth.

'Hello! Welcome back!' she said excitedly, but Law had no idea what she said. Her language was much different from his.

He blinked, lowering his soda. She was covered with flour, had cupcake sprinkles on her hands, and a dab of chocolate at the side of her mouth. Her project took up three steps, and he needed all three. The flowy white shirt turned out to be an apron over a bibbed sailor shirt.

"Wow, your momma dresses you funny," Law said.

She tilted her head, giving a friendly smile, but it was obvious she didn't know what he'd said.

So he leaned down at said with much exaggeration, "Your momma dresses you funny."

She held up a plastic plate with an eager smile, a tiny cake with carefully applied chocolate frosting and sprinkles. 'Eh? Eh? Snack?'

Law looked at it, then at the little girl. He shrugged because Doflamingo ate all the damn Hot Pockets. Shuffling his soda to the arm holding his book, he took the plate. Then dumped it carefully into his mouth. He chewed once, then spat it out with a curse. She stared up at him with horror, face frozen, mouth hanging open.

"Tastes like shitty cow pies. Get out of the way," he then said, stepping around her mess and using the railing to pull himself around the Easy Bake Oven and make it to the top. He looked back, and kicked the plates she had piled by the toy down the stairs. "And clean up your mess, brat."

She stared at him with huge blue eyes, looking moments near tears. Feeling satisfied that he made his point, Law continued his way to his apartment, chuckling.

The next day, he was feeling confident in passing today's math quiz, he had a new book, and there had been a food fight in the cafeteria that allowed him to steal off with some of his classmate's chips and plastic wrapped desserts, which he intended on eating for dinner. He walked up the stairs, eager to finish his homework and catch that week's newest episode of 'Pike-Bike Man: Evolution'.

Only this time, that small girl from yesterday was sitting on the steps, obviously waiting for him. She had a determined expression, and once she saw him, she rose straight up with a plate in hand. Law looked around cautiously, shifting his backpack from one shoulder to the other.

Then he looked down at the plate she held up with both hands, offering it to him with an expression that told him she'd made it for him.

He sneered at it. "Again with the shitty food? I don't want it! Beat it!"

Her face reddened, and she insisted that he take it with a shove of the plate in his direction. He narrowed his eyes at her, and then crossed his arms tight over his chest. She took a step down – she was wearing that silly apron, with another bibbed shirt, long socks and blue shorts. Her hair was frizzy around her face, pulled into the same ponytail as yesterday.

When he moved to walk around her, she moved with him.

Finally, he took the plate, and took a cautious bite. It wasn't that bad – but he didn't like the crunch it made when he chewed. He looked at it suspiciously, and realized it had nuts in it. He spat it on the stairs, then tossed the plate over his shoulder. She once again looked at him with a horrified expression.

"Tastes like shit! I hate nuts! Nuts are for homos!" he snapped at her. "That's what my uncle always says."

'Bastard!'

"…I don't think I like that word. That sounds like a mean word. I might have to kick you down the stairs, little girl, so get out of my way, and quit giving me shitty food to eat!" he growled, fist up.

She bared her tiny teeth, looking furious. But she turned and ran up the rest of the stairway, fists pumping hard. When he heard the slam of a door, he chuckled and continued on his way up. He looked down the hall where he'd heard the door shut, wondering which one she belonged to. When he went home, Corazon looked at him happily and immediately demanded to know why he was smiling.

The next day, Law anticipated seeing the little girl again. He wondered what she had planned for today, and felt a little let down when he didn't see her. He even lingered in the area, listening and waiting, but when he realized what he was doing, he continued on home.

For two days, Law expected to run into that little girl again. But he was disappointed every time. Saturday, he left the stuffy apartment and went outside, carrying a bag full of library books. He intended on walking through the park, taking a path that Corazon could watch him from the window from, but once he got to the little kids' playground along the sidewalk, he spotted the little girl sitting on the swings, staring morosely at some kids playing basketball.

She was without her apron. In fact, her hair was down, wild, and her socks were mismatched. Her brown shorts and yellow top with a high collar looked dirty. She turned and looked in his direction, and scowled at him. Before he could say anything, she flipped him off.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. "Little brat! What'd I do?"

'Bastard!' she snapped, falling off the swing and running towards the apartment side entrance. Law watched her go with a shocked expression. Then he flipped her off as well. He pulled his hand in and looked up towards the window that belonged to him, and imagined Corazon pounding on it with an indignant scolding. Sure enough, his cellphone rang, and he heaved an exasperated sigh as he answered it, the man bawling him out for the rude gesture.

When Monday came, Law was slurping at another Mountain Dew and he was examining a movie poster for the latest Pike-Bike Man movie that he really wanted to see when he realized he was being followed. He looked back with a startled burp and saw the little girl following him with another determined expression. Her ponytail was back, but she was wearing overalls, boots and oven mitts that fit her entire arm. She was holding a hot platter of cupcakes that looked pretty well done. They even had balloons in the center of them.

Arms shaking, she lifted them up and insisted that he take one.

The colors were nice. The smell was tantalizing. And he liked teasing the brat.

"Okay, but if it sucks, I'm punching you," he warned her, taking one from the middle. He glared at her, and she glared back, watching him take a cautious bite. He paused in mid-chew, and her face filled with color, just daring him to react. He looked at the cupcake with surprise, then took another bite. The flavors were just right.

He took two more, balancing them in one hand, holding the movie poster under his chin. He pointed at her with one finger. "I have been pleased, today. But no more chocolate!"

She looked at him with utter joy once she realized he was complimenting her. She turned and ran awkwardly down the stairs, shouting for her 'Papa!'

"Stupid kid," Law muttered, finishing off the cupcake and wondering if he should even share with his father and his uncle. He decided not to. He stuffed them both into his mouth and continued on home, chewing awkwardly.

The next day, she was waiting for him at the top of the stairs, a tray of finger snacks on her lap. When she saw him, she stood up, once again determined to show off her culinary skill. When he drew closer, he saw that the shapes were cut into stars, a half moon, and what looked to be a sun. They were cut from apples, olives, bananas and what looked like baked bread rolls.

"That's nasty," he told her, reaching out and slapping the moon and star shaped bread to the floor. Before he even had a chance to step back, she threw the entire tray at him with a furious curse, then hit him. She then turned and ran off, sniffling, and Law looked down at the mess caused. He did feel a little bad. It probably took her a long time to cut those pieces. For a five year old, the kid was pretty talented. He could barely cut shapes into a straight line.

His conscious debated with him on whether or not to continue home, or clean up. He went straight home.

The next day, when he neared her floor, he saw her playing at the end of the hall, tongue between her lips as she used a rather sharp knife to coil apple skin to the floor. His natural reaction was to stop her, but she was concentrating so hard on her task that he felt he'd wind up doing the thing he wanted to stop. Once she was finished, she examined the apple with a proud expression, then bit into it with a loud crunch. When she noticed him standing there, she flipped him off.

"You little brat!" he exclaimed. He then stomped off towards home, annoyed that he even paid attention to her.

That evening, he and Corazon were walking in from the street outside, carrying bags of takeout and Redbox movies.

Corazon hated taking the stairs – he enjoyed the elevator the most. Once they entered, though, a burly hand reached out and held the doors, and Law scowled because he hated sharing the small space with people he didn't know. The man entering the elevator held the little girl in one arm, and a full bag of fresh vegetables, fruit, a covered platter of cooked meat and freshly cooked bread in the other. The smells were heavenly.

"Is that a roast?" Corazon asked, visibly drooling.

Law made a face at the girl, who flipped him off. He couldn't resist the gesture back.

Both adult men looked at them with shock, and Corazon slapped his hand to his side with an embarrassed expression, the elderly man looking at Law with a terribly intimidating scowl.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, that was extremely incredibly rude of him! I swear, we're working on him! He's just a little boy, he - !"

"Forget it. Mine's a brat, too," the man said, his voice rich with an accent. As the elevator ascended with a cheery ding at each floor, he said, "I've been working on his manners, but he's a mind of his own."

"Hmm? Excuse me? 'Him'?" Corazon repeated, taking in the boy's ponytail, pink shirt and long socks with black loafers.

"Hah! She's a 'he'? What a little girl! Hey, Cora, this kid has been getting pissed at me when she – he – gives me shitty food!" Law said, tugging on his sweater.

"So you're the one he's been feeding? Driven him to obsession, you have, trying to please a brat like you," the man said. "I told him to let it go, you can't please everyone, but he was determined to do it. Ah, well. You've got to let kids be what they want, right?"

"To a certain degree," Corazon said weakly, as Law mouthed 'homo' to the boy. Corazon slapped Law across the head once he saw the old man's face shift with a hugely intimidating frown. Once they reached their floor, the old man left it, and Corazon looked hungrily at the bag he took with him, missing seeing the little boy use both hands to flip off Law.

When the doors closed, Corazon looked at their bags of takeout, moaning.

The next day, when Law saw the boy sitting on the stairs with a tray, he stood at the bottom and stared at him with his hands on his hips. The boy set his lips and glared, fists curling tightly over the handles of the tray.

"What'd you make today, little girl?" he sneered. "And it better not have bread in it. Why don't you be useful and make something a little manlier? Instead of all this sweet shit?"

The boy held his tray up with a determined expression, and Law took the few steps necessary to examine his choices. There were rice balls and what looked to be a tiny plate of snack meats, sliced into stars and cat faces, and the carrots and cucumbers were clumsily carved into small flowers and spirals. There were even two little hotdogs shaped into octopi atop of the rice cakes.

For once, words left him. He looked at the little boy again.

'Well? Bastard! Eat!' he demanded, and Law wished that they spoke the same language, because he swore that that word the kid was using to address him with was a bad one.

He picked up one of the hotdogs and ate it. It didn't taste like a hot dog. Not the kind that Doflamingo blew up in the microwave, or the kind that Corazon stuffed him with when they hit the baseball field. It was richer, more flavorful, spicy – he looked down at the tray, and instead of taking another selection, he snatched it from the boy's hands.

"I'll give it back tomorrow," he said, running off with it, much to the boy's horrified expression. He started to give chase until he realized Law was eating some of it on his way up to his apartment, so he stopped and gave a tired exhale, hand on his hips.

The next day, before he went to school, Law left the tray near the stairway he usually met the boy. He did hope that he had the same things served to him when he came back.

That afternoon, he met Corazon in the lobby, and he looked rather happy, Doflamingo muttering as he examined several horse betting tickets in one hand, cellphone in the other.

"We're going on a trip, Law!" Corazon said merrily. "Time to get out of this place, go relax, and enjoy the sun!"

"I hope you packed your floaties with you, because I'm not saving either of you when you hit the kiddie pools," Doflamingo said crankily.

"The kiddie pools! Law!"

"I'm too old for that shit!"

"But not for fun! Let's go! Private jet to the biggest island out there!" Corazon said, tripping over the suitcases Doflamingo had been standing by, sprawling over the floor while Law looked around with embarrassment. Doflamingo ripped up his tickets with an angry curse, tossing paper overhead with dramatics.

When they came back nearly a week later, both Corazon and Law were painfully sunburnt. Corazon had been stung by jellyfish, attacked by a nurse shark and was limping because he'd twisted his ankle water skiing. Law could barely move because his back and shoulders were sunburnt, and Doflamingo was dragging his suitcase behind him, examining lottery tickets and his phone at the same time.

When they waited for an elevator, Doflamingo looked at Corazon with alarm. "Where are your suitcases?"

Law wanted to cry as Corazon looked around them with a puzzled expression, expecting them to be there. Law couldn't even remember the last time he'd seen them. Doflamingo cursed, ripping up his lottery tickets and throwing the paper around them, the elevator signaling its arrival. Before they could walk in, the old man was walking out with a large platter of cooked meat, all three of them drooling hungrily as the smells hit them.

The little boy was carrying a suitcase with a cartoon character on it, wearing a uniform, and he looked at them all with judgment. When he saw Law, he flipped him off.

"You little brat!" Law snapped, but his face hurt, so he couldn't look quite as mean.

"Corazon, make friends with them immediately," Doflamingo said, snapping his fingers. "Be as pitiful as possible. It'd be good to have neighbors who can take pity on us."

"That'll be easy," Corazon grumbled, shuffling onto the elevator, tripping once Doflamingo stepped on his heel.

When Monday came, Law trudged up the stairway with his backpack over one shoulder, his manga in one hand, and a Mountain Dew in the other. He looked up to see the boy sitting on the stairway, rising hastily to his feet with a notecard in hand.

He cleared his throat and said slowly, "You are invited to dinner. Five o clock. Bring your daddies."

"One dad, one uncle. Not 'daddies'. They're not – oh. Wait, for real? You're inviting us to dinner?" Law asked, unaware that he was drooling already.

Then he looked at Law with a pleased expression, beaming with accomplishment. Law snatched the card from him, and read the information for himself. He scowled at the boy. "Fine. Five o'clock."

The boy grinned at him, then ran off, calling for his 'Papa!' again.

But when Law arrived at his home, Doflamingo and Corazon were packing hastily, looking terribly stressed.

"Sorry kiddo, but we've got to leave the area for a bit," Corazon said to him, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Now, let's get a move on! We have got to catch the four o'clock!"

"You did it again, didn't you, asshole?" Law asked Doflamingo with a venomous glare.

"You win some, you lose some!" he replied with a careless laugh. "Now, let's go! We got ten minutes to get out of here, or else we're swimming in the river with all else crap that's in there!"

"I hope we all die in a plane crash!"

When they all stumbled to the elevator with as much of their things they could carry, Law tried to look for the little boy, but he knew he wouldn't be seeing him anytime soon. With a regretful frown, he stayed close to Doflamingo because Corazon was capable of tripping and sending them all sprawling.

: :

When they returned to the city three years later, they found an apartment in the same complex, just a higher floor. Doflamingo had tripled their worth, and had settled all his problems, and had assured them that there was no trouble this time around. By the time the movers had left, Law was bored out of his mind and he was sulking in his room because he had to make friends all over again – at least his new school was going to be a private one. He played games on his phone for awhile, then decided to walk the area to get to know it again.

He wandered narrow streets with their open sidewalks – taking in the fresh food stands, the stores with brilliant posters in the windows, the arcade with a mixture of students and delinquents from the area – then went and bought a few manga from the bookstore that expanded their shop. On his way back to the complex, he bought some candy from a corner seller. He was eating that when he walked the stairway – new carpeting! – and realized he was being watched. He lowered his book and looked up with the candy hanging from his mouth, seeing the boy standing atop of the stairs.

He looked like a boy, now. Hair cut short, boyish features proudly defined, skinny arms and legs covered with bruises and bandages and scrapes that looked like road rash. He was wearing plaid shorts, a pristine white shirt and long socks with loafers.

Law snorted, saying, "Where's my snack, brat?"

"Where have you been?"

"Who the hell are you to keep track of me?"

"Were you that intimidated by my grandfather that all of you would move away to escape his wrath?"

"Oh, that's your grandpa? Did he kick the bucket, yet? He was hella old and weird when I last saw him," Law said, taking the next few steps up so that he was looming over the boy. "And who the hell are you to be talking to your elder like this? Go change your diaper, brat!"

"I'm Sanji, and I don't wear diapers."

"Your name's stupid. It sounds as stupid as that stupid eyebrow of yours. Look at my uniform. It's a private school. Which means I'm above you, you wannabe girl."

"I go to the same school, bastard. Elementary side! I saw you when our classes switched out from the cafeteria. You didn't even see me say 'hi' because your face was in a book."

"Why would I say 'hi' to a brat like you? That's just weird. You're a weird kid. Go play with your oven and die in it."

"You are so rude! It's a pity my Papa said I have to be nice to you," Sanji snapped, glaring up at him.

Law gave him an outraged snarl. "A 'pity'? Why would we need your stupid 'pity'?"

"Because he said one day we're going to wake up and there's going to be police all over because someone will shoot you guys all dead in your beds, and so I have to be nice because you're just a kid."

Law stared at him for a few moments, then laughed. "What a dumb ass! Your old man said that? Hah!"

"Isn't it true?"

"Yeah, actually, it's true. But we don't need your pity. You should be grateful. One day, both of you will be working for us! No more Hot Pockets for us! So I better see you at this same time tomorrow, with more snacks. Maybe I'll save a job for you as my slave."

"And maybe I'll just end up kicking your ass!"

"What are you going to do, little girl?" Law asked with a snort, and did not see the loafer coming at his face until it made connection with it.

When he woke up, Sanji was looking down at him guiltily, his 'Papa' standing nearby with a solemn frown.

"He's alive. Next time, don't aim for the jaw. Aim here," he said to Sanji, touching his gut. He walked away, shaking his head. "That should do it."

Law rubbed his face, sitting up with a stunned expression. He had no idea what happened just now, but his head ached. Sanji looked at him with worry, hands on his mouth, and then he bowed deep.

"I didn't mean to kick your ass for real," he said solemnly. "As a bigger kid, I thought you'd be a lot stronger than that."

"Hell with you! I hate you, brat! As soon as I see you tomorrow at school, I'm going to beat you up in front of everybody!" Law exclaimed, rising to his feet, stumbling. He felt woozy, and Sanji caught him before he could fall down the stairs.

In the end, Sanji helped him to his apartment, and Doflamingo was the one to open his door and see them standing there.

"Ah! You're home! And what happened to your face?" Doflamingo asked curiously, as Law shoved Sanji aside with a humiliated expression and barged in. He collapsed halfway in, Corazon dropping his Hot Pocket with a mild shriek. "What the hell?"

"I accidently kicked him," Sanji said hastily, bowing again. "Please don't shoot me."

"'Shoot you'? What? Wait, how can you 'accidently' kick a guy – never mind. Law! Get up! Corazon ate the last Hot Pocket, again! We have to make a run to catch the taco truck that's supposed to be coming by, in negative two minutes!"

"I did not! And you can't make time negative!" Corazon cried as Doflamingo shut the door and Sanji nervously ran away.

The next day, Sanji waited there with a plate and a hand written card of apology. When he saw Law coming up the stairs, he stood quickly. "Welcome back," he said anxiously.

"You're lucky I didn't see you at school, today," Law growled at him, removing his backpack. "But you better run! Because as soon as I get you, I'm going to kick your ass!"

"I said I was sorry! It was your fault for provoking me!"

"'My fault'? That's it! You better run!"

When Law chased him back to his apartment, he returned to grab his backpack. He frowned down at the plate with artfully arranged veggie animal and floral shapes, an apple cut into a rose, a slab of sliced snack meats. He grabbed it and ate a few things, looking at the card with a sullen frown.

On it was a simple crayon drawing of the sun, some buildings and a kid walking on the sidewalk. It said in careful cursive, "I'm sorry." On the inside, 'Not, go fuck yourself.'

He threw the card in the air, tossed the plate and the contents. Then he picked the card back up with a snarl, running back to the boy's apartment. He began pounding on it with both hands and feet.

"You open up this door right now, you bratty kid! What the hell kind of apology is this? Who teaches this kind of language to kids? You suck! Open up!"

When the door opened, it wasn't the boy that peered out. It was a tall older man with a peg-leg, a long handlebar mustache braided evenly at the corners of his mouth, and a weathered face that looked as if he were alive for centuries. He looked as if he'd been sleeping, and when he glared down at Law, Law immediately retreated from the doorway with a remorseful expression.

But he held the card up, saying, "He wrote this!"

"Looks like an apology," the old man grumbled, reading the front. When Law opened it, he sputtered. He grabbed the card from him and roared, "Sanji!"

"You said to be truthful!" Sanji's angry voice rang out.

"This language -! You know what to do, you damned shitty brat! For this, you can do fifty of them, to start!" The old man returned his attention back to Law as Sanji cried out with a whine. Moments, later, Law heard a thump, followed by a sullen, "One…"

"I apologize. But next time, you come and knock on the door politely. I'll let this go. Here, come in. You look like you could use a snack."

Law hesitated. But the smells from the apartment were heavenly, as if he were walking into an expensive restaurant. When he walked in, it was impossibly clean. There weren't any food stains on the carpet, no clothing lying around, no guns taped under furniture – he even crouched to look, causing the old man to look at him funny – and the kitchen was much grander than theirs. All around him were neatly hung pots and pants, with shiny utensils, matching dishware, real plants, and a large tray of freshly decorated sugar cookies.

The old man whipped him up something cold to drink, and decorated it with fruit kebobs. When he plucked out a couple of cookies from the selection, he then coaxed Law into following him into the nearby dining room, which was just as grand. Once seated at the table, the old man taking his hat and backpack from him, Law had stuffed one cookie in and was slurping at the drink moments later. The old man looked at him with vague disgust.

"No table manners, huh?"

"Doffy said to hurry up and eat because he's going to eat my share. So I eat fast. There's no time for manners," Law said, but it was only muffled noises that caused him to spray cookie crumbs over his plate.

"I'm going to get ready to leave. You may leave after you've finished. My name is Zeff, by the way. And you are…?"

"Law. 6F."

"The penthouse level, nice. Then your family must be doing well?"

"Doffy said he fixed all his 'loose ends' before we re-entered the country, so I think we're good."

Zeff gave him a puzzled look, then shrugged. "Okay. Well, none of my business."

Law ate the other cookie, chewing awkwardly. "Where do you work?"

"At the restaurant two blocks away. You fellows should come in, sometime. I'm sure you're all tired of those nasty freezer foods and overly greasy, salty takeout."

"Can I have another one?"

"Sure. Those are Sanji's. He made them for his class, tomorrow, because one of those idiots he hangs out wanted a reward for some competition he'd won over the weekend."

"Never mind, then. Not to be considerate, but I didn't know he made them. He made me mad."

Zeff eyed him as he slurped up the rest of his drink, causing the old man to wince. He reached out and pulled the straw from his mouth. "Clearly, it's empty. I'll refill it."

This is so neat! Law thought happily, looking around himself, feeling sated from the cookies and the sweet drink. When Zeff returned, he had a small plate of meat, cheeses and bread rolls that were still steaming. "Take this to your daddies. I'm sure they're hungry, too."

"Dad Corazon, Uncle Doffy. I don't know why people keep assuming they're married."

"Brothers don't usually live with each other this long."

"Who should they live with?" Law asked curiously, straw to mouth as he waited for an answer.

"Indeed," Zeff said aloud, looking over as Sanji walked in, giving Law a disgusted look.

"Why are you giving him my cookies? He doesn't deserve them! I didn't make them for him!" he growled.

"Can I have another one?" Law asked Zeff, just to piss Sanji off.

"I'm going to get ready for work, Sanji. Finish your homework, and I'll send someone to retrieve you in two hours so that you may help out," Zeff said patiently, retrieving another cookie and giving it to Law as Sanji watched with a shocked expression. "I didn't hear you get to fifty, by the way."

"I'll finish them after he leaves!"

"Finish what?" Law asked curiously, taking smaller bites.

"Have a good day, 6F. And I apologize again."

When Zeff walked away, Sanji looked up at Law, glaring at him.

"Why are you all sweaty?" Law asked. "It's gross. Have you discovered your special purpose already? Pervert."

"What?"

"You have a nice place. No one would ever suspect that a kid lives here with his old man."

"Zeff likes it sparkling clean. I like it sparkling clean. We're both clean people."

"Not us. Cora tries to keep it clean, but Doffy always forgets and he's always on his phone, so he leaves stuff everywhere. He finally hired a maid but the maid got scared and never came back. As long as they leave my room alone. All my manga finally came in, and I arranged it according to series and interest. Do you read, shitty little kid? Or do you even know how?"

"Stupid. Of course I do! Um, I do like cookbooks. I like books about food. Do you want to see my favorite book?"

"Boring! No."

"Then why are you still here? Go away!"

"What kind of cartoons do you watch, here?" Law then asked, looking for the tv. When he didn't see it, he looked back at Sanji, finally finishing off the last cookie.

"We don't watch television."

"You don't have a tv?"

"No."

"You don't have cable?"

"No, you shit bastard!"

"So you don't watch cartoons?"

"No."

"My favorite show is coming on, soon. Come with me. It's better than any book you have."

"I have homework."

"Bring it with you! Jeez."

Law left his mess, grabbing his hat and backpack, and Sanji hastily cleaned up the mess as Law made his way to his door. By the time they'd reached his home, Sanji looked as if he were making a bad decision. When Corazon opened the door, he looked at Sanji with delighted action, then frowned.

"Why are you bringing a small kid home? Did he get lost?" he asked Law as they walked in, Sanji looking around with awe – and disgust, once he stepped on something squishy. He moved to pick it up when something caught his eye, and he saw the Uzi taped to the hall table. His mouth dropped open, and Corazon hastily stood in front of it with a nervous expression.

Law handed him the snack tray that Zeff had given him, and Corazon looked like he was going to weep.

"This little asshole doesn't have tv. I'm going to show him 'Super Mouse Man: Redemption'," Law said, then dropping his hat and backpack to the floor and wandering off in search of the remote.

"I'm Sanji, 4K," Sanji said politely, bowing his head in front of Corazon. "It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Corazon – you can call me Cora, if you'd like! Are you Law's friend from school? Are you one of those super geniuses that have to skip a grade?" Corazon asked him, leading him away from the hall and into the 'man cave' – as Doffy put it. Then he tripped, dropping the tray onto the floor with a shocked gasp.

Sanji waited until the man composed himself, feeling bad for him because he looked at the dirtied food with such loss. "No, I'm a regular student. I'm eight."

"'Eight'?" Corazon repeated, looking at him with horror as he rose from the floor, rubbing the back of his head. Sanji wondered why – he'd hit knees first when he tripped. "You didn't kidnap him, did you, Law? You shouldn't listen to Doffy when he talks about taking in minions! He's not serious!"

"No! Doffy always says to return a favor, so I'm returning a favor! Sanji's old man gave me cookies, so I'm showing him this show."

"'Cookies'? What old man? Did you eat them? Do you – you don't feel any which way, do you?" Corazon asked, fretting around him. "Law! Don't take food from people you don't know!"

"How is that different from take out? I don't know half the bastards that we buy stuff from!"

Sanji was in awe of the man cave. It had a massive super LED smart tv with a booming sound system, a massive half circle couch that was centered in front of the television, and several game systems stacked neatly in a compartment shelf nearby, with all the accessories and games on display in an ornate hutch above it. His mouth fell open, not noticing Corazon as he hastily went about, removing various weaponry from the cushions, tables and even magazine racks until his arms were full. Then he hurried off to a room, tossed it all inside, and shut the door with a frozen smile.

Law found the remote and turned the tv on, and the sound system blasted him with the last channel's content, Sanji covering his face and head as the air vibrated with some music video.

"They still play these?" Law shouted over the noise, turning it down and switching the channel.

"Are you a housewife?" Sanji asked Corazon curiously.

"What a thing to say! I'm a busy man! Like I'd wait on anybody hand and foot!" Corazon exclaimed, hands on his hips. "Would you like something to eat? Drink? I just came back from the Costco."

At the theme song that blasted from the speakers, Sanji looked over at the tv. He was in awe at the graphics, the multi-colored blast animation, the catchy theme. He wandered away from Corazon to sit on the couch furthest from Law, captivated by the content. Law grinned brightly at him, and turned it up some, because Corazon was grumbling about ransom notes and mini-apprentices.

The next day, on his way back from school, Law saw Sanji sitting atop the rock wall near the playground, looking sullenly at the ground. He shifted direction and walked over, adjusting his backpack from one arm to the other, holding a book in one hand.

"What's wrong with you, kid?" he asked, looking up at him. "Are you still sad by the fact that you don't have a tv? Walk out into traffic if it'll make you feel better."

"I made cookies for my friend, and he didn't like them," Sanji said. "He said he hates sweet things."

"So?"

"And then everyone called me a 'homo'."

"That's what you get."

"I don't even know what that means!"

"It means you like guys, dumbass!"

"Well, I do! That's why I hang out with them!"

Law looked up at him with a horrified look, then said, "Like, like-like guys? Like Yuki from Mouse Man?"

"What? No! I meant, I'd rather play sports with them because they're stronger and faster and I don't like to lose!"

"Oh."

"And I love girls, a little too much," Sanji said with a blush. "They're so pretty, they smell nice, and they have such nice accessories!"

Law gave him a skeptical look. "Even that sounds weird, creep."

"But none of them want to be my girlfriend. I've asked every one of them."

"Well, you're eight, so..."

"I know I'm going to marry the most beautiful girl in the world, and we're going to have three kids, and she'll be a model and I'll be a world famous chef like my Papa, and we're going to live in a house with a white fence and have a dog named Momo and - !"

"Okay, that's too weird for me. Who even thinks about that sort of thing? I don't."

"You don't like girls?"

"I do!"

"Prove it! Which one's your girlfriend?"

"I don't have one! I'm too busy," Law said with a haughty sniff, blushing faintly.

Sanji gave him a skeptical look, kicking his heels against the rock wall.

"Okay. Shut up. I'm not interested in any of them in my class. They wear all this shiny stuff and make their skirts too short and they laugh and talk about you like you're not even there. And none of them like Super Mouse Man! Plus, they all make fun of my hat and call me a creep and they're too scared to talk to me because of stupid Doffy and Cora."

"Oh no!"

"Are you mocking me? I'll kick your ass!"

"Well, if you want a girlfriend, you're going about it all wrong. I can help you."

"Am I taking the advice of a freaking third grader? Why am I still here?" Law exclaimed, turning to walk away. Then he paused and flipped him off. "Where's my snack?"

"I was too busy moping to make you anything!"

"Oh, yeah. Your friend didn't like your cookies."

"His name is Zoro. He has green hair. He said he doesn't need school because he's going to wander the world, kicking people's asses with his shinai. Three of them. He tried to take them to class, but the teacher makes him put them away."

"I saw that kid, before. He was sitting in our class for a long time before the teacher kicked him out. He said his class moved when he went to the bathroom."

"He's an idiot," Sanji laughed. "He always gets lost! But he's a good fighter, and we fight each other all the time. Papa says that martial artists who fight each other all the time are good friends, so we're good friends."

"'Martial arts'? You?"

"Papa has been teaching me capoeira and savate. You don't need your hands for either."

"What is that?"

"I'm not that good, but - !" Sanji jumped down from the wall, and then assumed a wide stance before launching into a handstand. Law stared, mouth dropping open. Very slowly and carefully, Sanji kicked his legs up and down, maintaining the rigid position. "This is a bananira. I had to do these yesterday."

From there he twisted his legs around and down, shifting fluidly from one movement to the next, feet swiping out. "This is an Au, and this is macaco."

"Wow!" Law exclaimed, clapping his hands. "That's so cool! Your old man can do that, too? No way!"

"He's amazing!" Sanji said, jumping back to his feet. "I'm getting better at blocking his kicks, now!"

At the flutter of money over his head, Law looked up and over, seeing Doflamingo and Corazon standing there. Corazon looked excited, and Doflamingo was the one throwing dollar bills.

"Do something else!" Corazon cheered.

"I demand to see more," Doflamingo said. "Do it on a moving car, make it interesting."

Red faced, Law snapped at them, "Do you mind? You guys are so embarrassing!"

"We need to hurry along, Law! The taco truck will be coming here, soon, and we need to get there before that old broad from 4A does! She always takes all the sauce."

"See you later, Sanji! Don't forget my snack tomorrow, either!" Law said, pulling his backpack back on as Doflamingo picked up his dollar bills and stuffed them back into his pocket.

Sanji waved, then walked off, feeling better in that someone appreciated his efforts.

The next day, Sanji enjoyed a cup of fruit drink while Law snacked on a rice ball, both of them sitting on the rock wall, watching various kids come in from their schools throughout the area. A couple of them made to say something, but one look from Law made them hurry on, and it wasn't until the snacks were gone when Corazon walked up with a heavy bag from Whole Foods, looking up at them with a happy smile.

"Hi, you two! How was school?" he asked cheerfully, cigarette held in one hand.

"It wasn't all that great, but I can't complain about my grades," Sanji answered. He reached into his shirt pocket and withdrew a plastic wrapped cookie. "I saved you one, Mr. Cora!"

Corazon dropped everything in his hand to reach for it, Law wincing at the sound of eggs cracking. "Ah! Thank you! That's so sweet! Home-made?"

"You're so embarrassing! Don't look so happy taking a cookie from a kid! You're an old man, it probably looks creepy!" he admonished, looking around.

"Says the thirteen year old, hanging out with an eight year old, eating and drinking snacks like old men," Corazon said, eating the cookie with a single bite. "This is so good! Can you make more?"

"I can!" Sanji answered, grinning wide. "I'm glad you like it!"

"So, listen, Law – we're having guests over tonight. We'll probably head out to eat because there's absolutely nothing in the fridge, and they're tired of take out. When you come back inside, change into your nice clothes," Corazon then said, picking up his bag and then looking inside with a dismayed gasp. He walked off with a teary-eyed expression while Law shook his head with exasperation.

"Mob friends?" Sanji asked curiously.

"Pft. No. I bet it's just stupid Diamante, Trebol, and Pica again. They're dumb asses. They're friends of Doffy," Law said, hopping down from the wall.

"Oh! Wait! I brought you something else," Sanji said, digging into his clear backpack, a requirement of all elementary school kids. He handed Law the book, and he took it with interest. The title read, 'How To Charm The Ladies – Part One'. He threw it back at him.

"I'm not reading that crap! What's wrong with you?" he snapped.

Sanji snickered, making an 'L' shape against his forehead. "Loser! You'll have to find a mail order bride when you're older!"

"I don't even care about that! That's all you!"

"My bride will be beautiful! I'm going to find her on accident in a store one day, and we'll fall deep in love and make adorable babies and - !"

"That's so stupid! Fall off that wall and die! Dumb kid."

The next day, Sanji peered up at him. Law had a bandage on his cheek and he looked pretty angry, carrying a shinai in one hand.

"I have to do this after school, now," Law told him. "Diamante said he'd train me because 'everyone' should know how to fight. Doffy thought it was a good idea because I shouldn't be hanging out with a kid like you, anyway. It made that old broad in 4A say really irresponsible things that made him mad."

"Train hard, then. Maybe we can spar when you're better. It'll be fun!"

"They don't want me hanging out with you, anymore."

"Oh." Crestfallen, Sanji lowered his plate. "Well…if that's what you were told."

"Yep. We'll see each other at school, though. Make me a snack for after, and I'll eat it on my way home."

"Okay!" Sanji said, brightening. "See you at school, then!"

That arrangement worked for awhile, until the day Doffy picked him up after school for a dental appointment and saw them still talking.

"Don't you have any other friends?" Doflamingo asked curiously, looking away from his phone. "Your age? It's a little weird seeing an elementary schooler and a middle schooler hanging out together. That old bat from 4A said you guys were doing inappropriate things in the stairway, one day."

"Like what? I kicked him for trying to give me a sandwich, though. But, no, I don't. Everyone's afraid of me because of you guys."

"I'd be too, if I had to smell that breath all the time."

"Shut up!"

"It's time to get those teeth fixed! Braces, today, Law, today is the day! I'm going to make so much fun of you. My Instagram is going to be full of you crying."

"You're so messed up! Where's Cora?"

"I honestly don't know. He said he was going to the store, but that was over twenty hours ago."

"Doffy!"

"It's your fault for not noticing, either!" Doflamingo snapped, driving erratically.

The next day, Sanji looked up at Law with concern. He was holding his mouth funny, and he looked pretty upset. When Law showed him his braces, Sanji cringed.

"I'll adjust the menu," he said, reaching up and patting his shoulder. "But at least you'll have pretty teeth! You'll get all the ladies, and I'll have to get mad and try harder!"

Law didn't say anything, because it hurt to talk. For the rest of that school year, he didn't say much of anything, and Sanji still hung out with him, and neither cared what anybody had to say about their odd friendship.

That summer, Law was eating pudding that Zeff had made, both of them sitting on the rock wall overlooking the park, which was full of playing children with their parents lingering nearby. The outside pool was full of residents, and neither of them were that interested to join in.

Finishing off his pudding, Sanji said, "We're moving. The old man got a job in another city."

"That sucks," Law said, frowning, sucking the flavor from his braces. "For how long?"

"I don't know. It's going to be so lonely."

"It won't be that bad, you big baby. Grow up. By the time we see each other again, you better be caught up with Pike-Bike Man and Super Mouse Man. And we'll spar. And you can make Cora some more cookies."

Law hopped off the wall, and Sanji followed after packing away their dish-and silverware into a picnic bag. They walked away from the complex, the stroll taking them through the open market area, to a walking path that followed the winding curve of the city water canal.

"What are you going to do?" Sanji asked curiously, fanning his face with one hand.

Law shrugged. He carried his shinai in one hand – Diamante had demanded that he carry one at all times, just in case Doffy's rivals attempted a kidnapping. "I don't know. Practice more. Read more. I've got a ton of books that just came in that I haven't read, yet."

"Make some friends, okay? It'd be weird if you were alone because everyone's scared of you. I'm not, though. Mr. Cora's funny and Doffy is just dumb."

"That's because they – never mind. Anyway, shitty kid, just keep cooking. One day, you'll work for me."

"No way. I'm going to be married. Whatever she wants, I'm going to follow."

"Ugh, you're so dumb! Then I'll make both of you work for me!"

"Not uh. She won't have to lift a finger. These hands will do all the work for her!"

"God, you're so weird! Why do I hang out with you?"

"Because no one else will!"

"I'm going to make a bunch of friends and prove you wrong, brat!"

"Do it, then! Oh, follow me on Instagram. Zeff let me have one, because I'll only use it to Favorite recipes and such."

"Give me your at address, and I'll make one, too, then. Cora will let me have one. And I better not have naked girls or something on my timeline!"

Sanji blushed and covered his cheeks. "Ah, naked girls! The very epitome of God's art!"

"You're only eight! Why are you such a pervert? I remember when you made me think you were a girl!"

"I didn't make you! You were secretly hoping I was, though! Sicko."

Corazon walked up to them as Law tried to dump Sanji into the water canal, and he dropped his bags of takeout, running over hastily as some people looked on with horror. In the end, he fell in, and the two kids had to help fish him out.

Later that night, Sanji knocked on their door, and Doflamingo answered, looking faintly out of breath. When he looked down and saw that it was him, he scowled. Sanji held a thick scrapbook up, saying, "Hi, Mr. Flamingo. Can you please give this to Mr. Cora? It's recipes for Law."

"How sweet," Doflamingo said, taking the book and flipping through it. There were cut outs of completed recipes, decorated with various stickers, post-its and computer printed details. He started to drool looking at some of the pictures. Then he noticed that some of them had hearts and stars around them. "What's this?"

"Law's favorites."

Doflamingo slapped the book shut. "You realize that this is why that old bat keeps talking about you two."

"I'm moving, Mr. Flamingo."

"Donquixote."

"That's too hard to say."

"And Cora can't make anything. That's why we are as wasted as we are."

"He can do it. They're very easy to do. Please give it to him."

"Whatever. So when are you moving?"

"We're flying out tomorrow. Papa didn't tell me until last night because he didn't want me to be sad all this time."

"Fine. I'll give it to him. Are any of these your Papa's recipes that he uses in his restaurant?"

"No. They're just snacks."

"Damn. Okay. I'll give it to him."

"Thank you, Mr. Flamingo. Is Law here so I can say goodbye?"

"No, he's getting whacked half to death at the dojo. Here. Take this as a goodbye gift." Doflamingo reached for something out of sight, then held the brown bag out to him. "Put it somewhere safe, and don't tell your papa you have it."

"Okay." Sanji took the bag, and Doflamingo shut the door. Looking inside, Sanji had no idea what to do with a gun. But he walked off with a shrug.

Doflamingo looked at the recipe book, flipping through the pages. Then he tossed it into the trash and went back to the couch, picking up the remote so he could finish watching 'Up' in peace.

: :

"Where have you been?"

Sanji dropped the book he had been reading, looking up in alarm at the teenager that loomed over him, looking as if he were moments from hitting him. Once he realized it was Law, he brightened, jumping up from his chair and hugging him with a happy laugh. The passengers around them looked irritated, the crowded rows of anxious travelers already in the midst of their second layover.

"Welcome back!" he exclaimed, Law pushing away from him with a red face.

"We are in a crowded airport terminal and you pull that shit? What's wrong with you?" he snapped. "Guys don't hug each other!"

"Shit head, I'm much too happy to take offense to your little purity act! It's been a thousand years! How are you?"

"We're leaving the country for awhile. We should be back in another few. Doffy never learns."

"He is a dumb ass."

Law took in the sight of the preteen, dressed in an oversized cardigan, skinny jeans and a neat polo. He had a childishly round face with wide blue eyes and pink lips and the start of the dreaded teenage acne. His blond hair was hanging over one side of his face, he was wearing wireless headphones, and looked as if Justin Beiber were his style idol. He had multiple bracelets and a watch on one wrist, and some rings on skinny fingers on the other. It made him look at Sanji suspiciously. He shook his head, unsure of what face to make.

"You still dress weird. What is going on with this presentation?"

"I get a lot of my influence from my girlfriends," Sanji said, knowing he was the budding start of a trendy bishonen. "They've no complaints! I'm wearing my girlfriend's ring, a promise ring, and a purity ring, and these are from my friends – all girls, of course!"

"That ring will keep you pure? How stupid. And why are you wearing your girlfriends' rings? Aren't they supposed to be wearing yours?"

"Sometimes girls like guys to look like me. I'm super popular."

"Don't use 'super' in a sentence like that, homo."

"Don't get turned on by it, then, jack ass."

"Your voice is so weird – you almost sound like a male. But you confuse me – you make me want to kick you and stuff you in a trash can, or beat you for thinking that this is acceptable."

Sanji looked at the teen with his broader shoulders, a light sweater and scarf, black jeans and motorcycle boots. Even if the trucker's hat was still of the same material he'd worn years back, it was still ugly and out of place. But the teen also had his ears pierced, and his sideburns were growing in, and his teeth were as straight as a ruler. His face was sharper, jawline more defined, and his eyes were intense, the amber coloring more pronounced. When girls passed by, they stared obviously at him, sneakily taking pics. Sanji felt childishly young standing next to him, and self-consciously hunched his shoulders, fiddling with the sleeves of his cardigan.

"Ah, well, you look…grown up."

"Well, I am. I'm eighteen."

"I can't believe we used to hang out together. What a difference distance makes!"

"Yeah, well, not much has changed here. I'm still the same person."

"Not really," Sanji said, looking him over once more. Then he brightened. "Do you still have the book I gave you?"

"What book?"

"The recipe book I – well, I gave it to Mr. Flamingo to give to you – "

Law gave him a puzzled look. "He didn't give me anything. In fact, I didn't even know you left! Jerk. And you never gave me that at address, but whatever. I don't do that anymore. Less social media is less stress on me."

"Oh." Sanji bit his bottom lip, looking sad for a few moments. Then he brightened. "I'm on my way to Brazil. There's a competition I'm entering for capoeira. You should look me up on Youtube! I'm amazing!"

"I bet. You were pretty good as a youngster. Look, I got to go. Good luck, okay? It was nice seeing you."

"Oh – do you want my email? We should keep in contact."

"No, that wouldn't be a wise idea. Not with my family. If it's meant to be, we'll run into each other again."

"Ah, okay. Um, you too. I mean, see you later. I mean, much later. Like, in the future. Not now. But, later on. Somewhere else. Not here. Shit."

Law gave him a bewildered look. "Okay, homo. Guys don't say that sort of thing to each other."

"Oh, shut up."

Sanji waved as Law walked off without another glance back. Then he blushed, slamming down hard in his chair. He felt awkward and insecure and he looked down at himself with a heavy sigh. He thought he'd been pretty popular with the girls at his school, but compared to his childhood friend, he looked like a joke. He had a lot to grow into, and he felt mopey because there was still a lot to say to Law, and a lot of things to catch up on, and it seemed that neither of them would ever come back together as they did when they were kids.

He then startled at the feel of material around his neck, looking up as Law dumped his scarf over him.

"You can have that. Cora made me wear it. I don't need it," Law said, before walking off, backpack slung over one shoulder, much like how he carried it when they were kids.

Sanji's eyes sparkled. "So cool -!"

"Hey, let me buy that from you!" a girl whispered hastily from behind Sanji, startling him as she shoved a couple of twenties at him.

"Sorry. It's a gift from a friend," he said, clutching the scarf tightly, because it looked she was moments from ripping it away from him. It smelled like Law – in a whole different way. It was a spicier scent, warm, musky, and he felt unfamiliar with the sensation of excitement that raced through him. He tucked it around his neck and looked around with a red face, because he was pretty sure this feeling was wrong.

"I want a wife with three kids, a house with a white picket fence ,and a dog named Momo," he mumbled to himself.

"So do I! With him," the girl said, still looking over her seat with a hungry expression.

Sanji rolled his eyes and pulled his heels up to the edge of the seat and tried to concentrate on reading the latest adventure of Super Mouse Man: Revolution.