#acelu

Ace wakes up first, fueled by wanting to go back and hunt down Blackbeard again. He has learned nothing. Luffy's not a priority in his mind. He wants to avenge his father. When he tries to leave the island, Rayleigh reveals that Shanks is sailing around, and he immediately stops Ace, telling him that if he wants to defeat Blackbeard, then he's the first obstacle, because while Ace was out, Blackbeard was named as an Emperor. So, effectively, Ace is stuck on the island with Luffy and Rayleigh, a man who talks about Roger, and Ace hates Roger.

It's not helping that Marco is there, waiting for Ace to be ready, because Whitebeard's men are rallying around Ace, the last symbol of Whitebeard. There are men who want to follow Ace, now more than ever, since he was revealed to be Gol D. Roger's son. Marco tells him that Whitebeard planned to make him the successor. Ace doesn't take this well. He's convinced it's because he's Roger's son and that he didn't earn this. In Ace's mind, everything is boiling down to his bloodline.

Meanwhile, Luffy still hasn't woken up. Ace is getting restless, and he's feeling himself on the verge of doing something stupid, really stupid. Everyone is keeping him sane, Marco, Shanks, and Rayleigh. Luffy wakes up and Ace realizes that he can't lose Luffy. He genuinely loves his brother so much, and Luffy is the only person in his life who sees him not as an accessory to Roger but as his own person.

Overall, I've mainly want to focus on Ace's inner turmoil, all of his self-doubt and insecurities, and him prioritizing his revenge over his connection to Luffy, Rayleigh holding a mirror to him and Roger, Ace finding out more about his biological parents, Shanks mentoring Ace in a way by teaching him that revenge isn't everything. While all of this is happening, Luffy decides to make his love more apparent. He's sharing a bed with Ace, hugging and kissing his cheek. It's really innocent and sweet, small things, but Ace doesn't really see it as anything more than brotherly and childish,something he doesn't need. He doesn't need comfort. He wants revenge. It's not until Luffy kisses him on the lips that he panics that he forgets his hatred, but the memory of Whitebeard's death and the countless men that died for him bring him back. He sees Luffy's love as a distraction....

For my sake, too, I really, really want to have Rayleigh and Ace have lots and lots of conversations. Ace learns more about Rogue through Rayleigh, and Rayleigh has the realization that he sees Roger/Rogue in Ace/Luffy, but he keeps that to himself. And, here's where the angst really, really comes in. Luffy asks Ace to sail with him, and simultaneously, Ace is given the option, through Marco, to go avenge Whitebeard. You should know that at this point, Luffy and Ace have been affectionate. Ace didn't reject Luffy's kiss. They haven't slept together yet. It's more of a comfort, but it's super intimate. So, there Ace is, choosing between Luffy and Blackbeard, and he chooses Blackbeard.... He leaves Rusukaina without telling Luffy anything. Luffy really thought Ace would pick him.

Meanwhile, recently divorced, now sworn forever bachelor Shanks decides, why not celebrate his divorce at a club with his friends???? Benn, Yasopp, Lucky, Limejuice, Hongo, and he all go to the club. They're talking mad shit and all collectively decide the club's not that nice. It's too fancy, and they should have gone to a sports bar. Shanks agrees and before they go to leave, Luffy recognizes and goes up to Shanks and Shanks is like oh... It's Luffy.... and for context, Luffy's in a Playboy bunny outfit bc this is self-indulgent, right? Right! Anyway, now Shanks goes behind his friend's back, becomes one of Luffy's regulars, and invites Luffy on "dates" they're not dates, they are just "hanging out" Shanks fully wants to smash and Luffy's like I like Shanks HELL YEAH I WANNA HANG OUT!!!

AND LUFFY LIVES WITH HIS BROTHERS AND SABO AND ACE ARE SO PROUD THAT LUFFY IS HOLDING DOWN A JOB!!! but then Luffy starts bringing home expensive gifts.... and then they get suspicious...