Nice and Smart (DRABBLE)

/62/ Declaring Our Dreams

"I'm surprised, though, that you would run away despite having the life of a Noble," Ace held the pipe over his shoulders. "This kind of hellish survival life in the Gray Terminal and Jungle can't possibly be compared to the luxurious lifestyle that of a Noble child, right?"

Sabo flinched. "I can't stand being a Noble! They make me sick, they disregard human life and like to think of people as beneath them. There shouldn't be such a thing, I couldn't stand living with people like that, everyone should be equal in life. So, I ran away."

"Ooh," Luffy made a noise. "Is that why you always read about heroes and liberation stuff?"

Sabo laughed. "Pretty much."

Then, he looked out to the sea, and the cliffside they walked towards expanded the horizon as the whole world seem to come before them and beckoned for the four of them to enter the world of freedom, wanderlust, and romance.

"Hey," Sabo called out, "Let's set sail when we're seventeen. Every one of us can set sail when we're seventeen, and make a promise to do it. When I'm seventeen, I'm going to be a pirate who travels the whole world. I'll make a book about it, and... I'm going to show the world that your birth doesn't define your future, you make them."

"Heh..." Ace looked impressed before he, too, looked out into the vast sea. A smirk played on his lips and for the first time, Ace looked lighter than any of the four of them have ever seen him. His eyes shined with innocence as he declared his dreams proudly. "I'm going to make my life count, no running, no hiding. I'm going to show the world who I am, Portgas D. Ace, and I'm going to make every second worth it."

(I'm going to give the world the most meaningful reason for allowing me to live on.)

Runa hummed as if she was thinking about her dream before her lips curved up into a bright smile, "I'm going to be the Greatest Scientist in the world." A very simple and sweet dream, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Hah?" Ace blinked. "Like chemicals and shit?"

"Like Vegapunk?"

"Better, I'm going to be the Greatest. No one is going to beat me," And with a glint, no one has ever seen in Runa's eyes, her eyes shined like diamonds, like a King's. "I'm going to rule the World of Science and nobody will dethrone me."

"You're so ballsy!" Sabo cackled.

Then, their eyes turned towards Luffy who had been silently watching them this whole time, a big bright smile on his face. Luffy stood up slowly and then he faced the vast blue which covered their world and his smile grew wider if that was even possible. He inhaled and sucked a deep breath before declaring for the whole world to hear, "I'M GONNA—"

Sabo dropped his jaw open in shock. "Luffy, you're so childish!"

Ace rubbed his head as if he got a headache. "What are you saying, stupid?"

Runa looked incredulous. "I thought you gave up on it already!"

Then, the three of them exchanged looks and burst out laughing.

"Shishishishi!"