Broken Faith

Lesson 7: To have the blood of a Noble flow through your veins is an honour

"Waha!" Wood clanked against wood, "I've got you now, Ace!"

The boy in question pushed the floppy black hair out of his face, "Heh, you're an idiot if you think that!"

Sabo shrieked as he fell into the hidden pitfall trap. While still scrambling to find a way out, his wooden figurine got snatched out of his hand, "No! Sabo Junior!"

Ace smirked as he waggled it just out of Sabo's reach, "I win."

"Nope!" Sabo sniggered, pulling the miniature wooden Ace out of his pocket, "It's a draw."

"Hang on... Where...? How...?"

"He snatched it out of your back pocket when he fell down the hole," you supplied from your perch on the tree stump.

Ace growled, "You think you're so smart..."

You rolled your eyes, sketching another line with the pencil. Luffy's smile was really hard to get right... And he obviously had to be smiling. There was no way you were going to start carving before you got it perfe...satisfactory.

Yet another word that had been unnecessarily outlawed by Sabo.

You frowned. Whatever you tried, that smile never came out the way you wanted it to. Perhaps you should ask about how best to go about this. A small smile flickered. It was about time you owed him a visit.

"Oi, Freaky."

You recoiled from the sudden object shoved into your face.

Ace pointed at the face on his own figure, "Why the hell did you make me look so pissed? It looks like it's gonna murder something."

That glare had come out perfectly. You were very proud of it.

"It's not as if I have ever seen you make any other expression." You replied blankly. "It's like you've got a resting murder face."

Sabo snorted.

Ace rounded on him, "You can laugh all you want! Your figure looks happy! And you have a hat!"

"Sabo always wears a hat."

"Awww...is ickle bickle Acey jealous~?"

"N-NO I'M NOT!"

You groaned, hopping to your feet.

Sabo cocked his head, "Hey, where're you going?"

"To Fooshia." You replied. "I have some business to take care of."

"She's gonna go see that brat again." Ace huffed.

You raised your head from packing everything into your bag, "Luffy isn't there today. His grandfather has taken him for the weekend."

...Doing Lord knew what to him. You shuddered. Good luck Luffy...

"What've you got against him anyways?" Sabo grinned. His tooth was finally growing back in, "I like him."

Ace scuffed his foot, "He's clingy. And annoying."

"I think he's fun."

Everything was packed. After making sure everything was secured, you hoisted it over your shoulder with your metal. You'd learnt the hard way that it was a lot easier to hold anything heavy in your hand rather than over your shoulder. That hand made everything seem light... which your back hated. And you had to be extra careful now while your ankle was still healing up.

Speaking of..."So how's the pirate fund going?"

They froze.

"Don't tell me I fell from that blasted tree for nothing."