[ oh my god please stop crying he's dying here. she's having so many emotions and he's just like vague concerns about breaking her mixed in with the affection and nerves (about living) (about everything) and, also, of course, embarrassment about the pride. don't be proud of that he's always wanted to live he just didn't let himself think he could!!! ]

... Okay. [ he repeats and kind of laughs weakly as he hides his face. she's crying and he doesn't want to cry, so. ] I don't know what's... going to happen with my crew with Pops dead. And what happened to Luffy after I... anyway. [ grief and guilt and love but he dismissives that quick; ] So we'll have to figure out what I missed in a week to see where to go from there. And... well, the island I was on was probably sunk. So I'm not sure how we're dealing with that. And it's not the safest place, and everyone knows who I...

[ the entire whole world knows ace is the son of the pirate king now and it's kind of like, really making him sick to think about and raising his anxiety levels so he takes in a breath to center himself ]

The point is, sorry to drag you into my mess. But we'll get a boat and we'll find out.

[ there's that missing confidence. ]