"For the record, this is a bad idea." Koala offered, not bothering to look up as Ace and his brother left the ship.
"I agree with you, Koala. This is not the time , Ace!" Sabo reminded him again.
And yes, his brother was probably right. But half the time Ace wanted to deck him in the face and the other half he wanted to crush him in a hug. Since he figured neither feeling was going away any time soon and he'd rather not fight in front of Luffy - he was alive! - now was just about the only time. "What? I'm sure those Whitebeard losers will hear about me making trouble and hurry on over. Big Mom always does."
Sabo shook his head, "Fist, I'm surprised she didn't eat you. "
"She likes me." Ace replied, offering Sabo a leg up and over the wall that separated the port from the surrounding fields where large animals roamed free. Perfect spot for a fight since neither really wanted to get any civilians mixed up in their family squabble. "I'm very likeable."
"Says the man with breathtaking self esteem issues."
"I said I'm likeable . Not that I'm worthy of being liked, asshole." Ace snapped back.
Sabo raised his arms in defeat, though Ace knew very well his brother would likely kill anyone who said Ace wasn't worth being liked. Or alive. Good, he didn't just want to wail on Sabo, he wanted a fight. "Also, don't call them losers. The White Bread pirates-"
"Bread?"
"Are quite strong. Even by your stupid standards." Sabo continued, pulling his pipe free of its straps and tossing it to the side before adjusting his gloves. Ace had a sneaking suspicion there was seastone worked into them somehow. "So, how do you want to do this?"
Good question. He didn't want to be at this for days, which would easily happen if Sabo was as strong as he thought his brother was. Plus collateral went up the longer the fight went. "Best two out of three?"
"Oh great, we'll just be at this a week then." Sabo quipped back. "How about first one to say 'Jiji'? Or, you know, fall unconscious…. How's your narcolepsy, Ace?"
"Har har." He flipped a lazy fireball at the other that was easily knocked out of existence by a wave of a hand. Definitely seastone in those gloves. "On the count of three?"
"One."
"Two."
On three both launched at each other, fists flying. It was nostalgic; it was cathartic; it was fun for all that anger fueled more than a few of those punches. What Ace was exactly angered over was something not even he understood. He loved Sabo; was thrilled to have him back, and knew Sabo hadn't forgotten him - them - deliberately.
Still, there was a bubbling burning feeling in his gut over all the lost time. All the could-have-beens and all his failings as a brother, rage over the scars Sabo carried inside and out that showed how Ace had failed him. Fear that he buried under the white hot anger at the thought of Luffy , broken as Sabo described him.
As he skidded back from a vicious right hook Ace took in the slightly crazed look in his brother's eyes. Ace knew he should probably be worried about that look. He was pretty sure he didn't remember Sabo smiling like he was planning on eating you as a kid. Then again getting blown up probably messed with a person...well if they weren't made of fire...besides he wasn't a good person to judge what were healthy coping mechanisms. Anyone who'd witnessed his temper in action could attest to that.
Especially when it made the spar so much more thrilling. Ace launched himself at Sabo, turning into flames at the last second and barely avoiding what would have been a bone bruising kick to the ribs to appear behind Sabo and returning the favor with interest, kicking him clear through the wall protecting the village.
"Oops." He said, reforming just to disappear as Sabo had the nerve to throw a building at him. It was a small house, but still.
"Sorry, my hand slipped." Sabo replied, the creepy look would have actually been scary if he wasn't sure they weren't trying to kill each other. Especially when his hand turned black with armament haki and crushed the piece of siding in his hand to dust. Forget seastone,Sabo was dangerous enough to make this fight really interesting.
"How rude." He spat a glob of blood as he reformed before returning the look with a devilish grin of his own.
"What are you going to do about it, bastard ?"
"This!" Ace launched himself up, bringing a fire piller down on his brother, knowing for sure now the other could handle it. Which he did, leaping through the flames to slam into Ace, knee to the gut and elbow to the back of the head. "You asshole !" That had actually hurt! He flipped away, kicking his brother in the chin.
The two of them glared at each other, ignoring the people running for cover. Ace felt the glare become a smirk. Yeah, he was still angry, but he was always angry all the time . Now though, he was having fun. Sabo's answering smirk said he was having fun, too.
"Give up?"
"You do? How nice of you-"
"I'm going to kill you, you smug bastard!" Ace shouted lunging for the blond who easily slipped out of the way.
This was going to be fun !
