Ace watched Luffy. He was sitting on the head of his ship. Thousand Sunny. Ace thought that fit Luffy well. Ace smiled as Luffy started rocking his feet side to side.
Luffy seemed Happy and Ace was glad about that. Ace joined Luffy on the figurehead. Luffy couldn't see him but that didn't matter much to Ace.
Luffy stretched, leaning back against the figurehead and looking up at the sky.
Ace silently sat next to him.
"What are you off to next, Lu?" Ace wondered out loud. Luffy bolted upright and look straight at Ace.
Ace fear Luffy could see him. But Luffy was definitely looking beyond Ace. Luffy shook his head and looked forward.
"Must have been in my head," Luffy muttered. Ace frowned. Ace only wanted to stick around long enough to see Luffy fulfill his dream. After that, well who knows. There was some sort of afterlife Ace had avoided.
But Luffy could hear him, occasionally, sometimes Ace felt like Luffy could even see him. And if that were the case maybe Ace really shouldn't stick around.
Ace was kinda surprised that Brook couldn't see him. Or if he did, pretended not to. Luffy glanced behind him. His crew, at least the ones that were on deck, where a distance away and occupied.
"I think I'm really close to becoming the Pirate King, Ace!" Luffy stated with a smile.
"Oh yeah?" Ace asked.
"The grand line was around seven islands I think, so it should take that much to get to Rafael, right? We've already been to 4! Or was it 5?" Luffy wondered, trying to count on his fingers. "Ah, it doesn't matter, we're still really close!"
"Yeah, you are," Ace agreed. "But you still got a long ways to go."
"I bet if you were here I could beat you up now! That's how much stronger I've gotten!" Luffy stated.
Ace only scoffed and moved to shove Luffy. His hand fell through Luffy though. Luffy wiped his head around in Ace's direction.
Luffy rubbed his arm.
"It still feels like you're here ya'know?" Luffy muttered. He pulled his knees under his chin.
"I am," Ace muttered with a sigh. "I am, Luffy." Ace stood and ruffled Luffy's hair just as the wind picked.
"Life is for the living," Ace reminded himself. As he climbed down from the figurehead. He should check on Marco too, it's been a few months. "And death is for the dead..."
