chapter 10:The Straw Hat of Promises [3]
It was almost two months past Ace's 17th birthday and Luffy was about to pull his hair out.
Ace wasn't leaving for his adventure!
Whenever Luffy started speaking about it, his brother dodged the topic with the same extreme persistence reserved for dodging Grandpa's Fists of Love. He suddenly needed to go hunting, or pick something from the bandits, or visit Makino, or anything else, but not discuss it.
Trying to talk to Ace had gotten him nowhere so far, so Luffy decided to confront him during their daily spar session. Ace's pride would prevent him from fleeing in the middle of the battle, so that seemed like his only option.
Luffy let a few fights pass, winning some and losing some, but frustration finally won over, and he decked his brother, pointed at him, and said, "You need to leave, Ace!"
"Huh?" Ace blinked at him from the ground, rubbing at his abused nose. After checking if it wasn't broken, he sat up and scowled. "You want to get rid of me?"
"You need to set sail and start your adventure!" Luffy practically shouted it out. His brother was insufferable! "All three of us agreed to leave this island on our seventeenth birthday. You're already late!"
"Sabo left when he was almost eleven," Ace argued. "So why can't I—"
"No!"
Two teens glared at each other, unyielding determination on both sides. Neither of them wanted to back down, but someone had to.
Luffy sighed. "Sabo wanted to be free. That's why he set sail earlier. After—" he paused, unconsciously moving his hand over the scar hidden underneath the bandana. He wasn't clawing at his throat anymore, but even now, he could sometimes still feel the weight of the cold collar around his neck. But the scar was still there, and it meant he had been saved, no matter how his actions back then bothered him now. "I know what it means to lose your freedom, so I'm gonna set sail to live as the freest person in the world. But how should I feel when I'm standing between my brother and his freedom?"
Ace clicked his tongue and stood up, brushing dust off of himself. His posture was stiff as a board, radiating great displeasure with every little move he made.
"All three of us dreamed about it. About our own ship, nakama, adventure," Luffy continued. "What are you planning to do? To set sail together with me? I'll be the captain then." He smirked when Ace's face twitched, and the glare he received said more about what he thought of this idea than his brother would have probably liked. "That's what I thought."
It ruffled Ace's feathers. "It might even work out. You don't know that," he grumbled out just for the sake of arguing. They both knew that neither of them could work under the other nor give up the position of captain.
"I know you want to go, Ace. Your heart is screaming for the sea." A small smile softened Luffy's expression. "I'll be okay. Don't worry about me, and go."
Ace's shoulders sagged, fight draining out of him. "But, Luffy, your nightmares…"
"I'll be fine," the boy insisted firmly. He touched the straw hat and added, "I have Shanks's hat to help me."
Ace scoffed. "You're choosing that old, battered, worn-out thing instead of your brother, huh."
"Don't insult my hat!"
Ace smirked at successfully riling his baby brother up. "Don't get angry, I have an important promise placed on it, so this hat is significant to me too." He tipped the straw hat down on Luffy's face and smiled wider when the latter spluttered. "I'll make sure to thank Shanks for giving it to you."
"Say 'hi' to him from me," Luffy mumbled as he fixed his hat, trying not to pout.
"Will do."
Luffy couldn't lie to himself—he didn't want Ace to leave. The mere thought of staying all alone for three years until he also turned 17 and started his own adventure scared him. But he swore to live through it! He couldn't let those people and what they did to him destroy his brother's dream, too. "And so that we can protect our loved ones." That's right. It was also part of the promise they made that day.
Ace looked at the sun. It was already past noon, but there was still enough time to get ready for his journey. "I guess I'll set sail in a couple of days," he muttered.
Luffy was unable to hold it in any longer, and he tackled his brother into a hug. "I'll miss you," he murmured into his chest. "I love you, Ace."
And just like always, Ace's presence blossomed with all the warm emotions. Luffy allowed those emotions to envelop him, basking in their radiance. He liked this feeling, that's why he did it. And his brother needed to hear it more often too. Despite knowing that it always made Ace embarrassed and bright red in the face.
"Sh-Shut up!"
"Shishishishi."