Chapter Text
Fortunately for the brat cook, Ace had woken up just in time to restrain Sabo.
That didn't stop the older blond from glaring at him even as he placed a plate of delicious-smelling food in front of him. As much as he hated that flirty little shit, Sabo couldn't deny that he made excellent food. It was the only reason he was still standing right now.
Well, that and the fact that his and Zoro's presence were needed as buffers to suffer the blow Lucy was about to receive. He and Ace had talked about it last night and their sister was going to hit the roof. But it was something that needed to be done.
Still, Sabo was still pissed at what he had found. Luckily- at least in Sanji's case- he had missed the actual kiss. But he had seen Lucy's face: the daze in her eyes, her flushed cheeks, her bashful grin. That brat was too damn charming for his own good! His poor, innocent baby sister didn't stand a chance against his allure.
Ace- who was absolutely zero help- seemed to get a kick out of it. He teased both teens until they were red in the face. The only other sane one at the table was Zoro, who also glared at Sanji whenever he was around.
Sabo had always liked Zoro better than Sanji. For one, he had known Zoro since the younger man was in middle school. For another, Zoro didn't look at his sister with such blatant lust. He also hadn't immediately proposed upon meeting Lucy, unlike the brat cook. He was a loyal, steadfast companion who his sister adored.
Still, Sabo wasn't an idiot. Zoro was just as love sick over Lucy as Sanji was, perhaps even more so. He loathed the idea of his sister dating anyone, but at least with Zoro he wouldn't have to worry about her boyfriend having wandering eyes.
Speaking of Lucy, she was currently stuffing her face. "Sanji, it's so good!" she claimed between chunks of food.
Sabo sighed. "Lu-Lu, chew with your mouth closed," he admonished. He loved his baby sister, but she had terrible table manners. It seemed as though all of poor Makino's lessons had been futile.
Ace made a face. "Yeah," he agreed. "No one wants to see that." His face suddenly turned wicked. "Sanji won't wanna kiss you again if you stuff your face like a barbarian."
Sabo kicked his brother under the table.
But the damage was done. Lucy suddenly went still as she dropped her fork. She looked at the younger blond with big, sad eyes, much to the horror of everyone in the room. "Is that true?" she asked, her lower lip jutting out.
Seemingly unconcerned with her brothers' ire, Sanji immediately knelt in front of her. "Never," he swore, taking her hand and kissing it. He gave her a kind smile. "You remember what I told you this morning, right?"
Lucy suddenly smiled again. "Yeah!" she answered. She stuck her tongue out at Ace before going back to happily eating. Everyone sighed in relief that a Lucy outburst hadn't happened, though Zoro did hit Sanji over the head.
Sabo appreciated that.
XXX
As predicted, Lucy hit the roof when they told her. "The police?!" she shouted at her two brothers. "What the hell? I'm not going to the police!"
Sabo hated arguing with his sister, but Ace had no such qualms. "Lucy, we need to show them your face," he insisted sharply. "If we wait too long, we'll have no evidence and Bellamy will walk free. Is that what you want? For that ass to have the freedom to harass you at school whenever he wants?"
Her cheeks puffed out in indignation. "I can handle Bellamy just fine!" she insisted. "I'm gonna kick his ass next time I see him!" She whirled around to face her green-haired friend. "Right, Zoro?!"
Zoro seemed unusually attentive at her side. "Yeah, Captain," he responded with a nod. Sabo raised an eyebrow at the unusual phrasing. He had heard Shanks and the girls on Lucy's swim team call her that jokingly before, but Zoro sounded dead serious. Weird.
Ace took a deep, frustrated breath. "Even if you could beat the crap outta the guy," he said, ignoring her sound of offense at being doubted. "Who's to say he won't do this to others? What if he decides to target Nami or Vivi next?"
Sabo nodded. "Or anyone else," he added. He clenched his fist, nails digging into his palms in anger. Even forgoing the fact that it was his sister attacked, scum like Bellamy made him sick and something needed to be done about them. It was the whole reason he worked for Lucy's father in the first place. "Animals like him need to be caged."
Lucy looked torn between her pride and her desire to protect others. She looked at her friends, who both gave her meaningful looks. She grunted in annoyance, punching the couch. "Fine, I'll go to the stupid police! But I'm not happy about it!"
Sabo sighed in relief. Keeping those two around had been the right choice. He was still going to kill the brat cook, but it would have to wait until Bellamy regretted even looking his sister's way.
XXX
The visit to the police station had gone... as well as expected.
Lucy had been defensive the entire time, easily growing agitated with the line of questioning. And she and Ace shared the same braincell, apparently, because her agitation caused him to grow irritated too. He had begun snapping at the officers, especially if he felt they were being pushing. Sabo had to smooth things over, but then what else was new? At least they were able to open an investigation. Once that was processed, the police would probably get a warrant for the school's security footage.
To make her feel better, they had brought Lucy to Shanks and Makino's place afterwards. While Lucy had loved Dadan, Sabo knew she saw Shanks and Makino as the parents she'd wished she had.
Makino opened the door and instantly her hands were on Lucy's cheeks, peppering her face with little kisses. Lucy giggled, not bothering to swat her away. "Makino, I'm too old," she whined, but really loved to attention. She adored physical affection.
Shanks somehow ruffled both his and Ace's hair with one arm. "Good to see you brats," he said, ushering them inside. Lucy immediately followed Makino into the leaving room where their baby was.
"I feel abandoned," Ace muttered, almost jealous.
Sabo snickered. "The little sister becomes the big sister," he mused.
Shanks gave a hearty laugh. "Never thought Anchor would be so good with kids." His face soon sobered and he frowned. "Do I want to know what happened to her face?"
Ace was angry all over again. "Goddamn Bellamy," he hissed. "We just got back from the police station. He kissed her, probably wanted to do a whole lot worse."
Shanks' face darkened. "Are you going to bring it up with the school?"
Sabo shrugged. "Depends on the police, I guess." If the police proved themselves incompetent, Sabo would just have to take things into his own hands. No one was allowed to touch his sister.
No one.