"They hinted at it, they didn't outright say it." Ace fidgeted for a moment...he looked as though he might either light the entire training center on fire...or implode in on himself and shatter into a million pieces.

He really wasn't listening to Namur any longer, lost in his own thoughts and feelings. Was that why Thatch left him that first night? Because he was angry that Ace had been unable to defeat Teach? Were they all having a laugh? Angry at him because he was the reason Pops was dead? Flicks of flame moved off his bare shoulders. He tried to reel it in, but his emotions were a little too much at the moment. How could they not tell him? How could everyone just lie and act like everything was alright? Weren't they family? Wasn't he important? Why? Why? Why?

"WHY?!" Ace let out a rather large column of flame, not caring if anything caught on fire. In his haste to get away for a moment....to process all of this without being bothered...to cry where no one could see him...to mourn for his lost father...the fact that he broke his promise to Luffy...oh god...Luffy...! Tears threatened to fall and all he could do was run. Past Namur. Past all the other cadets and officers. Outside. Fresh air. He just kept running. He didn't care where, he just need solitude, and quiet, and a chance to process all of this before he saw anyone else.