The glaring match continued even after Jii-chan left. It only stopped when Ace moved to carry the meat inside.
Once Ace leaves, Luffy's attention would be drawn naturally to me. I get it. I understand... but why are you staring at me like that Luffy-kun?
"Na~, have we met before?"
...Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?
"Maybe. I was also born in Fusha."
It's easier for me to just say that.
To be honest, we have met once. The day before I was given to Dadan. But Luffy was one years old, and I was about a couple of months. This can count as our first meeting.
What is this kid trying to say anyway?
Luffy was thinking deeply, tilting his head from side to side.
"Mmm~? No, that's not it. More recent...?"
Luffy doesn't seem to be completely sure either.
But that doesn't matter. Luffy... Dang it, Luffy...! The Luffy that never noticed Usopp=Sogeking... Why is his intuition so good with times like this!?
Not good, he might notice if he goes down this path! All of my three years of trying to ignore reality might come crashing down! I need to change the subject, quick!
"Hey, are you going to tell me your name? Jii-chan said it, but it's better to hear it from who the name belongs to."
It was a stretch, but Luffy nodded in agreement. Thank god he's such a simp- no, no, innocent child.
"I'm Luffy! I'm going to be Pirate King!"
Luffy puffed his chest out in pride.
He's been declaring that since this young age?
Huh... well, two can play that game.
"I'm Yuwan. I want to be a man to change history."
I tried declaring something big. It's not wrong, is it? I'm trying to change things like the summit war.
"Hey, wasn't your mouth stretching earlier?
I asked, even if I already knew. Leaving behind evidence that I collected data is just as important as not.
"Yeah! I'm a rubber human!"
Luffy proudly exclaimed, as he pulled both sides of his mouth as far apart as possible. ...Oh man, I really want to pull it.
"Hey, come in. Boss wants to talk to Luffy a bit."
Dogra came to get us, so we followed him in.
If he hadn't come, I might have lost my fight to curiosity, and pulled at Luffy's cheek, so I was kind of glad.
Ace's mistrust for others ran as deeply as the secret he carried. The greatest thing he fears is what would happen if his birth came out to light. I don't like it, but I can't do anything about it at this point in time.
Since the Dadan family knew because they lived together, then it's only a matter of time before Luffy finds out. Even I knew, and no one ever told me...well, without counting the fact that I knew from the beginning. But even without prior knowledge, I still would have figured it out, and Ace wasn't surprised that I knew. Luffy also knew in canon, though I can't remember how.
But Dadan doesn't want the Marines after them. They definitely didn't take care of us without thinking. If Luffy loses interest in Ace, then he may not even notice the situation.
Anyway, Ace was actually afraid. He was afraid that Luffy might go around telling people what he learned, or say something close to what those guys in the bar had said. That's why he won't let his guard down, and doesn't interact with him.
Well, it's not like I don't understand. honestly, during that conversation earlier, I too am feeling guarded around Luffy... Even if it's just me trying to run from reality. It's not as large of a thing as a secret.
Luffy, just like in canon, craved meat, and wanted to eat it. Dadan didn't let him have any though. Ace completely ignored him, and I pretended not to hear either. Sorry Luffy, I'm growing too. I don't want to share my meat.
Normally, Ace and I would take the meat back with us and eat there after making ourselves smaller. But with Luffy here, we can't seem to return to the room... That's probably why Ace, with his appetite, was in a bad mood.
Dadan was lecturing Luffy about chores and helping the bandits, but she wasn't being serious. Neither Ace nor I had ever participated in bandit work. They were more likely to kick us out, saying we're in the way than let us come along. She was trying to scare Luffy into going to Jii-chan, and somehow getting him to take the kid back.
It's such a sad thought process, but I could see where she was coming from. I felt pity for Dadan, ... but I also knew it was pointless.
"Ok."
Luffy nodded. He is too innocent for his own good... Even Dadan is crying.
"This is why I don't like Garp's grand kids. They're too tough!"
...Garp's grand kid's? ...Does that include me? I'm not that tough, am I? ...It's not really important anyway. I don't care too deeply...mm?
"..."
Hey, Ace? Why are you silently pulling my arm?
I could see that Ace had finished eating already. I'm almost done too... Ace nodded towards the door.
Oh, I see. We're going now? We did have a meeting planned with Sabo in the afternoon today... Just say it out loud Ace. No need to be so vigilant.
I decided to humor him though. He had enough on his plate as is.
"Ah, where are you guys going?"
Luffy called out to us...He looks a bit alarmed. Does he not want to be left alone with the bandits?
"To the meet-"
I tried to say to the meeting place, since he wouldn't know about the Gray Terminal, but Ace jerked my arm to stop me. He didn't want me to give out information, it seemed. *sigh*
"Heeeeeey, Wait~~!"
As expected, Luffy came running after us. Desperately. He's drenched in sweat. I remember the feeling on the first day to Gray Terminal. I could now keep up with Ace, and I was proud of how far I've gotten. Un, Good job, me.
Ace's frown, on the other hand, kept getting deeper and deeper. I could feel his displeasure increase with every step, and he still has a grip on my arm, so I can't move away...*sigh*.
I feel like I'm sighing a log today.
We could hear Luffy loudly talking about how he's not angry about the spit, and how they should be friends... what a pure child.
But this pureness seemed to have gotten on Ace's nerves.
Luffy has such a bad timing. Ace has a lot on his plate right now, what with the fight a few days ago, added with mistrust towards unknown person (=Luffy) and not being able to eat enough because of him. Ace's bad mood had peaked.
Ace suddenly kicked down a tree, then rolled it towards Luffy
Luffy's scream could be heard across the mountain... But I don't feel like helping. It's kind of fun, and I already know he'll survive. He's rubber! He was fine when he was squashed by Laboon, one or two trees are not going to hurt him.
I'm more impressed at Ace for doing this, even if he didn't know of Luffy's rubbery-ness. Was he actually trying to kill the kid? That's a scary thought.
Ace didn't even check what happened, and walked away. I saw a little bit. A child shaped flat rubber... it was a little funny, even if it isn't to the person having it done to them.
Ace wouldn't let me watch the rest though. He still kept his grip on my arm, and tugged ma along.
But not so long after that, we heard Luffy's voice from behind us... and Ace clicked his tongue.
"Chi... Let's go."
He started running before I even nodded. I didn't want to be dragged along, so I ran too. Recalling there being a bridge on this path, I remembered what happens next in canon.
...But I don't want to be too harsh.
Ace stopped once we crossed the bridge.
"Ace, you going to drop him off the bridge?"
I asked, but Ace didn't answer. I'm assuming that means yes.
"I think we might be going a bit too far, kicking him into the canyon."
I mean, if it was just the canyon, then it would have been fine... well, not really, but still.
"...You just watched the last time."
Ace mumbled out. I shrugged.
"Yeah, but he's rubber. He won't die just by being squished. Probably."
"Rubber?"
Ace finally turned towards me. He hadn't even made eye contact with me till now.
"Yeah. Rubber human. Probably one of the devil fruits... Just like me."
Ace's frown deepened.
"...When did you ask that?"
Wait, why did his mood get worse?
"When he introduced himself... Didn't you see him stretch when Jii-chan pulled him here?"
His mood kept plummeting... Why?
"Then it's fine if we drop him."
Why is he pouting?
Maa, like before, just dropping him into the canyon is ok. It might even be fun... Huh? I feel like I'm being a little cruel... Oh well, it's the truth. The problem though.
"You know there are wolves down there, right?"
Even if the fall won't hurt him, the claws and teeth would.
Ace clicked his tongue again... Oh, was he actually trying to kill him? Such inhumane act... But then what would that make me, enjoying the situation a little, a cruel person?
Poor innocent Luffy following two cruel people around.
"Just drop the bridge. Then he doesn't know another road run after us."
Actually, please agree. Luffy didn't come back for a week after Ace dropped him in canon. I would feel bad about doing that.
Ace grudgingly accepted, and cut down the bridge before Luffy came.
"Where's the bridge!?"
Oh, hey Luffy. Nice timing.
"There's wolves in the canyon, don't try to follow us! Go back to Dadan's place!"
I warned him. Otherwise, he might try to shoot himself across, or something. He's Luffy after all.
"I don't like bandits!"
On the other side, Luffy cried out, desperate to keep us here.
"There are different kinds of bandits. Good luck!"
There are different types of pirates too. I heard Luffy saying something else, but I didn't listen. I was getting worried about Ace's mood swings.
Sabo is waiting too, so we headed off to Gray Terminal without looking back.
A/N: Ace is inhuman. Yuwan is just being cruel.