Seconds
Where Ace and Sabo meet for a second during their missions and Ace is left thinking he lacks sleep.
"Are you sure you will take on this mission?" Marco looked at Ace, who nodded looking pretty convincing until the First Division Commander spotted a small bubble coming from latter's nose. "Nope, you are going to sleep. I will send Jozu or Vista instead." He said.
Ace's eyes widened. "I am awake!" he called, Marco rising an eyebrow. "Come on, Marco, I can do this small mission." Ace grinned.
Marco eyed him before a sigh escaped his lips. "Alright," he murmured. "If you answer my question correctly, you can go." He said and he could see stars in Ace's eyes and he had no idea why he wanted so much to take this mission.
"Okay, shoot," Ace grinned.
"How much is one plus one?" Marco asked.
"Pft," snorted Ace. "This is your question?" he asked and shook with head. "It is three, but after nine months." He answered, his lips broken in a grin that could lighten up even a black hole.
Marco was silent before he realized what Ace just said. "Do I even want to know who told you that?" he asked, his hand over his face. He was getting too old for this crap.
"It was Thatch," Ace replied ever so happily.
"Of course he did…" Marco murmured. "Just don't make me regret it later…" he said and gave a paper to Ace, who seemed much too overjoyed. He watched the Second Division Commander run down the deck and most likely into kitchen, to tell Thatch and later Whitebeard, but before he could even get to the doors, he fell face first to the ground.
Everyone on the deck stopped and watched the raven haired teen. Marco rose his hands, giving up. Izo chuckled by his side as Vista raised an eyebrow, staring at Ace, who jumped on his feet and continued to the kitchen. Marco shook with head, wondering just how he will be able to end this mission.
-:-
Ace yawned as he walked down the street, full of people. "Damn it, escaped right under my fingers again…" He groaned, small pout spreading on his lips. "If only the Sea King wouldn't hold me back, I could get here one day earlier." He said and let out a sigh. "Well, but as long as he is doing fine is okay, I guess…" he murmured and looked back in front.
He walked for a while more before he came to a stop next to a stand where fruit was selling. He smiled at the man, asking for few apples and paid for them before he continued his way towards hotel or restaurant, wherever he could eat meat. Not that he wasn't satisfied with apples, it never filled him to the fullest. With another yawn, he bit into apple and slowly munch on it, blinking ever so slowly as he felt himself falling asleep any moment now. But before he could, he was suddenly wide awake, his eyes wide like he just saw a ghost.
Blond hair and blue hat, with googles, passed him by ever so quietly, almost without a notice if he hadn't used a little bit of haki just in case for his safety as you never know when you could be attacked. He could hear his voice, but it was different, much different than when he was a kid. His head turned around, trying to find the hat, that same black hat that suddenly disappeared.
He took a step forward and another until he was walking in the same way he came. He used haki, but his presence was gone. Like he disappeared from the island. Like he was nothing but a ghost. But he knew he was there. He saw him. He heard him. He almost felt him by his side.
Narrowing his eyebrows, he shook with head, trying to wake himself up. "Who am I kidding?" he let out a bitter laugh. "I really need to find a place to sleep." He murmured and continued his way to find a place where he could rest.