[His heart jumps up into his throat, and he blushes furiously, and tries even harder to ignore or at least PRETEND to ignore the whole thing, even as the blush spreads out to his ears. It's fine. It's Portgas being Portgas. And it probably doesn't mean anything, he just wants to annoy him, so the simple thing is to not be annoyed, right?]

[Right.]

You hurt her and I'll break you.

And I mean it, Portgas.

I haven't gone easy on you out of pity, but because...

[...]

[His tongue shrivels up and refuses to finish that...]

Well...

You know.

[Because he told him once before. Even if Ace didn't believe him.]

[He swings Ace once, just because he thinks the kid might enjoy it, and then carefully swings him back into a soft landing on the ground.]

She doesn't pity you either. She's just...

[He sits down near Ace on the ground, with his knees bunched up, and arms around them and offers Portgas a cigar.]

We knew what your grandfather did for you. [Quiet voice.] All of it. [Moves just enough to let Ace choke or beat him senseless, whichever he preferred.] I don't think the others do as much. And we... don't agree with the government on it. [Wary, and haki coating his balls, but otherwise still willing to let Ace lose his cool.]