revamped drabble
I wrote this for a drabble session over at naye 's Post-574 Chaos Thread Party.
Prompt: The things you leave behind you'll always carry.
I'll Carry Your Love
"Pops! Pops! Look at this!"
Whitebeard blinked as the scrap of paper was shoved against his face.
"A bounty poster?"
"Not just any bounty poster! Look at this, old man! This is my little brother, Luffy!" Ace shouted excitedly as he pointed at the poster with his free hand.
"Ah, I see." The boy did somewhat resemble his son, with his guileless grin and frank open face.
"The one you can't shut up about?" Marco playfully pulled the poster away from Ace's grip to study it critically.
"Hmm…30 million berries. Small change." Jozzu rumbled, peering over Marco's shoulder.
"You forget we're from the East Blue, me and my brother." Ace reminded indignantly, "He's got a larger starting bounty than me when I started out!"
"Oh that's not saying much!" Marco laughed as Ace playfully sent a burst of flame his way and snatched the bounty poster back.
"He's finally come!" Ace smiled fondly at the picture.
"If this boy is half the fighter you are, it would be worth taking him on as a crewmate, right Pops?" Marco lazily flicked his heavy-lidded eyes in Whitebeard's direction.
"Any brother of yours would be welcome as one of my sons, Ace." Whitebeard promised.
Ace laughed as he folded the poster safely into one of his pockets.
"If I meet up with him, I'll offer a place in your crew, but I'll doubt he'll take you up on it. Luffy's a free spirit and his goal is to become King of the Pirates. I think he'd even be crazy enough to try to take you on for One Piece, Pops!"
"Gurarara! Such an impudent brat! If we ever cross as enemies, I'll give him a thrashing he won't soon forget!" Whitebeard topped off his statement with a heavy swig of sake.
"Hey Ace, where are you going?"
Ace was already heading for the men's quarters.
"To show Thatch and Teach! Where is Thatch anyways? Wasn't he going to show everyone his new Devil Fruit powers today?"
"Mah, probably just sleeping off his hangover!" Marco waved carelessly, his trademark lazy smirk in place, "I think I saw him and Teach start a drinking contest last night to celebrate his good luck."
"I'll head on over to his quarters then."
Ace merrily rushed off, feeling giddy with happiness. His kid brother was finally on his way to the Grand Line! He'd set off to meet him and offer him a place in Whitebeard's crew. Sure, Luffy would probably refuse like the stubborn idiot he was, but it would be nice to see his troublesome little brother again.
The huge grin was still stuck on his face as he reached Thatch's room. He banged eagerly on the door. No reply.
"Oi Thatch! Are you that hung over? C'mon, I wanna show you something!"
Still no answer.
"Thatch! I'm coming in!"
The door creaked open. The grin on his face slowly faded.
"Thatch?"