The sun was going down, so Ace had finally decided to head back after a day skulking around Fuchsia.
Under the impression that he had gotten into another fight with his siblings, Makino had kicked him out of the bar again soon after he had arrived. He'd spent his time since then wandering around the outskirts of the village looking at nothing in particular.
He sighed in the dim light of the setting sun, and set off slowly dawdling back.
oOo
What in the Blues?
Ace stopped and stared around at the clearing. Strings of glowing leaves (Locks probably had a hand in that) were wound around and around, lighting up the area with a soft yellow light. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned to see Locks watching him with an unimpressed expression. Before he could defend himself, she had already walked up and flicked him in the forehead.
"Luffy says I'm not allowed to be mad at you on your birthday." She said, then smiled sweetly. "Tomorrow, we do training, yes?"
Something told Ace that it would be wise to agree. He nodded his head furiously.
"Good." Locks said. "Now you get present . . . and you are going to like present. Understand?"
He nodded furiously again.
"Good." Locks said again. "Wait here."
oOo
Soon, she came back with Luffy in tow, the younger boy giggling maniacally holding something behind his back.
Made a wrong turn, once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life
"Ta-da!" Luffy said, shoving an extremely orange object in Ace's face with a blinding grin. Ace took the object gingerly (you could never be too careful), turning it over and over in his hands. Locks, impatient, snatched it out of his hands and jammed it on his head so that it covered his eyes.
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Ace pulled the brim of his new orange cowboy hat so that he could see, in time to see Locks gesture around at the clearing with her tongue sticking out of her mouth. All the strings of glowing leaves suddenly glowed brighter, lighting up the dark as the sun finally slipped below the horizon.
Mistaken, always second guessing
Underestimated, look I'm still around
"Show him the flame thing!" Luffy said, looking excited. It made Ace wonder what they'd been up to all day-
Locks kissed the palm of her hand and blew. Small fiery balls suddenly shot out of her finger tips, only to then glide gently around the clearing at random. Most of them were orange, but a few were yellow or green.
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than
Less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
Less than perfect
Locks smiled, eyeing her creations.
"Fireflies." She said simply, sounding pleased.
You're so mean
When you talk
About yourself, you were wrong
Change the voices in your head
Make them like you instead
Ace looked at the wandering spheres in awe.
"Fireflies?" he breathed. Locks grinned.
"They light up the dark." She said, "Just like you."
So complicated
Look how we all make it
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
"Like me?" Ace said, confused.
"You are like light in night, for Luffy 'specially. Even if you not realise it." Locks replied, still watching the fiery orbs.
Oh
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than
Fucking perfect
"Smile!" Luffy said. He poked his fingers in the corners of Ace's mouth and stretched it into a grimace. Locks whacked the rubber boy in the back of the head, causing Luffy to pout at her and whine.
Ace couldn't help but smile, surrounded by light here with his family. He brought his hands up to touch the brim of his new hat.
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
You're fucking perfect to me
Ace liked his present.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The lyrics are from 'Fucking Perfect' by P!nk.