A/N: Actual #4 contains mature content. go to AO3 for that.
Ace is feeling a little homesick. Or is it luffysick?
The waves of the ocean gently rock the small fishing boat- more of a dinghy, really- that's been given a breath of new life as a Pirate Ship.
Today, like the past four, has been mild. The sun is out, a handful of clouds scattered in the sky, and wind strong enough to fill the sails without being too much so.
For a maiden voyage of the newly minted Pirate, Ace, it'd been perfect so far. He was on course for a nearby island- Rowan, if he remembered right- and there was a good lot of food and water tucked away in the boats single, cramped room below deck. Far more than he remembered gathering himself, in fact. He had a feeling Makino and the other villagers may have had something to do with that.
And yet, Ace let out a long sigh, he was still utterly miserable. Why, you might ask?
For most questions in Aces life, there was a single answer that could be applied to almost any situation.
Luffy.
He couldn't stop thinking about him! Cute, adorable little Luffy! His dear younger brother! He huffed, leaning against the railing and staring at the empty horizon.
He was probably getting into all sorts of trouble by now! All alone -a brief, biting flash of blond flickered in his vision- without Ace there to watch out for him. He grit his teeth. Remembered how Luffy had hidden his face behind his hat, even as he grinned and waved and faded into the distance.
But he couldn't. He couldn't go back, no matter how much he wanted, because it would only make this feeling worse. And Luffy, Luffy... He would get so excited, and worried, but so so happy... and then hurt all over again.
Because Ace would have to leave him behind. Again. And that was the only thing that kept him from turning the hell around and going back.
Still, the thought that Luffy would be better off if he didn't return was a cold comfort. Because now, on this empty ship, even with the sun and the picturesque view, he was lonely and miserable.
And he should be feeling excited, happy and eager- but he couldn't.
Because dammit, he missed his little brother.
