serpents of smoke | ASL Fic

Kefi - Seven

Ace's head knocked against the sand in frustration.

In front of him, Sabo was watching him with a disturbed expression. "You're distracted." He remarked, feet kicking through the sand beneath. Beside them, the ocean rocked, the waves occasionally reaching their ankles before winding backwards.

Ace groaned. He did not need to be told that by Sabo, of all people. The blonde was practically the king of being distracted; Sabo was always lost in his own mind!

"Am not!" Ace retorted, pushing himself off the ground and to his feet, the wooden staff in his hand clasped tightly between his palms. The shorter of the two raised his eyebrow. Draped in grey shorts and a beige tank top, Sabo looked ridiculous. Never mind the fact that Ace wore similar clothing. Most of their clothes had been tattered to the point of in repair. Luckily for the boys, Luffy knew a person. Makino.

"Sure," Sabo smirked, swinging the pipe in his hands like he was in a circus show and not a legitimate fight. Ace supposed it made sense. Sabo fought like it was a dance, their audience the surrounding trees. Each move of his was light on the ground—rarely did Ace see the boy touch the sand for more than a minute, always shifting and dodging.

Sabo was the perfect opponent for Ace, who relied on instincts, judging by his gut when he should step back or push forward; more often than not, he pushed forward. This had been Ace's latest mistake on a growing list of them. Pursuing Sabo when he was on the defensive and prepared for Ace's reckless movements would haunt him for years to come. He had swiped Ace's feet from under him with effortless strength.

Sabo was also right, however. Ace was sidetracked. The ocean beside them was captivating, with the ease with which it moved. Rocking the dock nearby, and leaving mud in its wake. However, Ace could not find it beautiful, even as the sun reflected off its surface and cast the typical navy colour in a warm blend of oranges and yellows, the colours bleeding together and painting hues of which Ace did not have the name. Only that they emanated warmth, like that of a mother's hug—not that Ace had ever known such a thing. Besides, his mind was preoccupied with the thought of Devil Fruits.

The water lapped at his ankles, but all he could imagine was how Luffy would react to its touch. He had seen it with the crocodiles. The memory still left a shiver down his spine.

"I've been thinking," Ace began, hesitant, as his staff fell and dug into the sand. Further off the shore, the bat Sabo had brought back weeks ago was sitting unassumingly on the sand. They hadn't touched it nor used it since the incident, but they made sure to keep it in eyesight. An item that could harm Luffy couldn't fall into the wrong hands. Ace and Sabo wouldn't let it happen.

"Oh no," Sabo rolled his eyes, swinging his pipe in a circle like one would if they were a circus performer. Clown, Ace thought spitefully. "Don't hurt yourself too much." Ace kicked sand at Sabo.

"Luffy is a Devil Fruit user, right?" Sabo hummed, gaze flickering to the ocean before settling on Ace. He appeared contemplative. "He's deadweight in the ocean."

Sabo huffed, the pipe he had just thrown into the air falling into his palm, perfectly. Another thing Ace had learnt; much like Luffy, Sabo always needed to be doing something. "Yeah," Sabo shivered, "I don't think I can ever eat a Devil Fruit if those are the consequences." Sighing, Sabo regarded Ace with a serious look. "What's your point?"

"I want to become a stronger swimmer." Ace kneeled, his feet digging deeper into the sand. His hand brushed along the rippling water with a glint in his eyes. Determination, Sabo recognized it. It was a feeling Ace carried along his shoulders like a cape. He admired it the most about the older boy—though he would never tell Ace that.