[ At this point, he knows there's no outrunning it; it feels like the slow walk to the gallows once again, seastone heavy on his wrists and ears ringing with insult and injury. At least this time, he knows he'll come back. Even if it is changed. Even if he's scared he'll come back wrong, some fundamental part of him irrevocably brought to light — the monstrous lineage in his blood finally, shamefully on display.
That's why he slips his hand into Law's, and squeezes down on it. A simply, quiet gesture as he joins him in their lopsided kitchenette. Sabo's out — prowling and investigating and preparing to overthrow the world, and Law works hard to court Patho-Gen and provide medical services to the Augmented. He admires them so much. No wonder Luffy made friends with Trafalgar Law. ]
Come on, don't be that way. [ Even with all the changes overcoming Law, making him look,
well,
like he has Amber Lead. Ace isn't shy about taking his hand into his own, black-fingered and oozing faint, pale miasma. ]
I never asked what drew you and Luffy together in the first place, yanno'?
[ he doesn't look at their hands — his own with a smattering of white spots like someone has scrubbed his skin too hard and leeched all the colour off it, ace's fingers a stark contrast in their midnight, a pale aura around it.
instead, he looks at the coffee cup.
and, after a moment, he sighs. ]
I can't really speak for him, can I? [ there's a dryness to his tone, one that holds the implication that surely, surely straw hat's reasons would be too stupid for him to even think about. too friendly, too nice. (like ace's, really.) ]
We ended up watching the same black market auction. Within the first two minutes after arriving, he punched a Celestial Dragon to the face.
[ his gaze doesn't waver from the black liquid in his boring, white mug; but there's the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, despite himself. ]
When the Marines came, it was us and one more pirate remaining. We fought our way out at the same time. [ not together, because that would imply some form of cooperation. they'd quarreled the entire time.
(he doesn't say when the next time he'd seen luffy had been. the shadow of marineford hangs over them heavily, even now. especially now.) ]
no subject
That's why he slips his hand into Law's, and squeezes down on it. A simply, quiet gesture as he joins him in their lopsided kitchenette. Sabo's out — prowling and investigating and preparing to overthrow the world, and Law works hard to court Patho-Gen and provide medical services to the Augmented. He admires them so much. No wonder Luffy made friends with Trafalgar Law. ]
Come on, don't be that way. [ Even with all the changes overcoming Law, making him look,
well,
like he has Amber Lead. Ace isn't shy about taking his hand into his own, black-fingered and oozing faint, pale miasma. ]
I never asked what drew you and Luffy together in the first place, yanno'?
no subject
instead, he looks at the coffee cup.
and, after a moment, he sighs. ]
I can't really speak for him, can I? [ there's a dryness to his tone, one that holds the implication that surely, surely straw hat's reasons would be too stupid for him to even think about. too friendly, too nice. (like ace's, really.) ]
We ended up watching the same black market auction. Within the first two minutes after arriving, he punched a Celestial Dragon to the face.
[ his gaze doesn't waver from the black liquid in his boring, white mug; but there's the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, despite himself. ]
When the Marines came, it was us and one more pirate remaining. We fought our way out at the same time. [ not together, because that would imply some form of cooperation. they'd quarreled the entire time.
(he doesn't say when the next time he'd seen luffy had been. the shadow of marineford hangs over them heavily, even now. especially now.) ]