I hope you all liked the last chapter!
~The North Blue~
Ace stared out at the sea that stretched before him from the top of the Red Line. Roberto was down below speaking with the dock hand about a boat, and Booth was looking over the boats with them. Ace just stared ahead, trying to get a feel for the new sea, it was completely new territory for all three of them. At least on the East Blue they had a small idea about what to expect, but the North Blue was different.
Ace looked down as he heard someone shout his name, watching Roberto wave up to him. He nodded before making his way down the mountain side to the dock below. Roberto turned back to the dock hand, continuing the discussion. Ace arrived and went to Booth who was looking the boat over carefully.
"So?"
Booth looked at his captain. "This boat will do for now. It's a bit bigger then our last, so it'll be perfect if we get more crewmembers."
Ace nodded, trusting his navigator. "We'll need an actual carpenter eventually."
Booth nodded in agreement. "I know a bit about boats but only enough to get us by. And considering where we'll be heading, that won't be enough."
"We also need a cook and a doctor." Roberto walked up behind them, startling the two.
It was true that they had gotten by so far with Roberto's meager cooking skills and Ace's minimal knowledge of medicine. Ace nodded as he took in Roberto's words while Roberto and Booth began to discuss their next plans and what supplies they'd need for the next leg of the trip. Ace hopped onto the boat, walking into the room of the ship, intent on getting the feel of it before they sailed. Roberto called his name after a while, and Ace returned to his crew, content with their new vessel.
"We need to finish gathering supplies for the trip." Roberto pulled out a list he had been working on since the night before.
"How much longer you think we're going to be here?" Booth questioned watching Roberto.
"A day or two, we just need to get the supplies and then we'll be ready." Roberto sighed before looking up at the sky. "Getting to this side of the Red Line took longer than I thought so we don't have daylight left."
"Do we want to leave someone with the boat tonight, just in case?" Ace questioned as he looked around the dock.
Roberto nodded. "Probably be safest."
Ace nodded before looking back at the Red Line in thought. They had spent most of the day getting to the dock. The shops were probably already closing up for the night and they wouldn't be able to get much done anyways. Ace glanced at their supplies they had with them. they needed to be put away before they did anything else.
"Let's get all this stuff put up, then you two go and find a place to stay." Ace grabbed his bag as he gave the orders.
"The two of us?" Roberto followed his captain, confused.
"Yeah. You know what we need, and Booth can help pick out anything you forgot."
Booth followed them after grabbing a few more objects. "So you'll be staying here then?"
"Yeah."
Roberto sighed as he studied his captain carefully, not really wanting to leave him by himself. He had done that once before they had met Booth. It hadn't ended well, at least for the guys who had attacked Ace. Booth seemed unsure of what to do-he hadn't seen how much trouble Ace could get into-but he had heard Roberto's accounts.
Roberto sighed as he and Booth moved to exit the boat once they put everything inside. Ace had volunteered to put everything away, saying it'd give him something to do while they were gone. Roberto looked around the dock, seeing nothing Ace could really get into trouble with, but the young captain always seemed to find a way. He turned back to stare at his captain, the raven stared back with a sheepish smile.
"Don't cause trouble."
Ace rolled his eyes. "I won't."
"That's what you said last time."
Ace chuckled slightly. "That was last time."
Roberto sighed. "Just remember we're not in the East Blue anymore."
"So?"
"The East Blue is known as the weakest of the seas," Booth supplied as Roberto glanced his way.
Roberto nodded. "I don't know what the North Blue is known as, but I can say it probably isn't weak."
"I'll be fine."
Roberto looked skeptical. "I'll believe that when I come back and you don't have any new injuries."
Ace rolled his eyes again. "Yes, mom."
"Don't call me that!"
"Then stop telling me what to do and being such a worrywart."
"I wouldn't worry if you didn't get yourself into trouble!"
"I don't do it on purpose."
"Not always." Roberto glared at the raven.
Ace glared back. "I thought I'd get away from the lectures once I became a captain."
Roberto smirked. "Afraid not. Once you become capable of standing on your own two feet then I'll stop lecturing you."
"Standing on my own two feet?" Ace sent his friend a confused look. "Don't I do that now?"
Roberto laughed. "You're still a kid. You have a lot to learn about the world."
"You're not that much older than me."
"No I'm not, but I know a lot more then you do." Roberto paused. "When I stop worrying about your safety is when I stop lecturing you."
Ace huffed as he turned from his crew, but once his back was to him he let out a small smile. He hated being lectured, but it felt nice to have someone doing it because they cared. It reminded Ace of Sabo, and that made him feel at home. He was slowly opening up more to the two, he just wasn't sure what he was willing to trust them with.
"By the way," Booth began, trying to draw their attention from the argument. "I've been wondering something."
"What?" Ace asked.
"Did you guys go to Logue Town before getting me?"
Ace shook his head. "Nope."
"We didn't even make it in that direction." Roberto admitted after a moment.
"Why not? Don't all pirates, at least those in the East Blue, go there to start their journeys?"
"I guess it's because we didn't need to head that way." Roberto looked back at Ace for confirmation.
Ace nodded before frowning. "I wouldn't have wanted to go there anyways."
"Why not?" Booth looked confused. "Most new pirates want to see the place where the Pirate King died."
Ace's frown deepened. "Because I don't want to waste my time on people who are better off forgotten."
"Ace?" Roberto asked worried.
Ace smiled suddenly. "You guys better get going, it's getting late."
"Ace. Is everything ok?" Roberto looked at his captain carefully.
"Of course. I'm going to go finish putting stuff away, see you tomorrow."
Before either could reply Ace had headed back into the cabin, closing the door behind him. He waited for their footsteps to begin moving away before banging his fist on the door. He slid down to the ground as he glared at the opposite wall trying to rid his mind of that man.
"I'll surpass him. I have to. If I don't I won't ever be truly free."
~End ch. 7~
Sorry for the late update, my beta-reader is really getting busy with school and costume and work and such. So it's been hectic in fact for the next few weeks she is going to be taking a break from checking these chapters, so I'll be flying solo.
Reviewer's corner:
kunf'you'z-ed: Ace lived a sheltered life, besides Dadan and the bandits, Makino, Garp and his brothers he was never close to anyone. He doesn't know what to share or what not to exactly. That's why Roberto worries so much about him.
Till next time!
