Work Text:
“I just came to see his face one last time.”
Just his face, because he knows that if Luffy wakes up, he’ll want to talk to him for hours, days—years. He’ll want to know every last moment he’s missed in twelve years—hidden moments of Luffy’s life and Ace’s that can’t be filled in with newspaper clippings and wanted posters. He’ll want to know if Luffy heard Ace’s last words or any clue to his last thoughts.
He’ll want to stay with the brother he hasn’t lost.
But it’s enough to see his face, to know that Luffy will be left in the good hands of people who love him as much as he does.
A last look and a piece of Luffy’s vivre card, and he can leave satisfied.
It’s not goodbye—he can’t not have Luffy in his life again, after all—just a parting with the promise of a better meeting.