"I won't die."
The words echoed in Luffy's head. More like battered and rammed Luffy's skull really. Luffy stared at the gravestone in front of him.
"I am not there. I do not die." Was scrolled in elegant cursive into the stone. Luffy hated that. Hated that Sabo and Marco had wanted to make sure that was on Ace's gravestone.
Ace was dead.
He lied.
Lied to Luffy, Sabo, Marco, everyone. Luffy pressed his hand against the earth. It's not like it did anything, but Luffy found comfort in knowing Ace was beneath him.
Despite him being in the dirt. Luffy clutched a handful of grass and bit his lip.
Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die!
Well, Luffy wasn't standing so. The wind picked up and Luffy shivered in the autumn air. He missed Ace. Missed him a lot. Luffy frowned and scooted a bit closer to the gravestone.
"I met someone today!" Luffy said. "His name is Law, I think we're gunna be really good friends." Luffy stared at the quote on the gravestone again. He didn't expect a response, he knew he wasn't going to get one.
"Sabo's going to purpose to Koala, he told me yesterday," Luffy continued, smiling now. "He's gunna take her to Baratie, remember, where you purposed to me?" Luffy's lip trembled.
"I bet she'll say yes, it's pretty obvious, huh?" Luffy asked. "Sabo's nervous, he didn't say, but he can tell."
"Sabo told me you weren't nervous at all, that you knew I was gunna say yes."
The air between Luffy and the gravestone fell silent. Luffy clutched the grass again. Those words still bouncing around in the back of his mind.
"I won't die."
"I won't die."
"I won't die."
Luffy's shoulders shook.
I did not die!
But he did die. He's gone. And it felt like Sabo had moved on. And Marco. Of fucking course they have.
Sabo didn't lose Koala. It wasn't the same. Still, it hurt.
"I love you," Luffy muttered. Silent tears rolled down on Luffy's face. "I love you so much."
