#second division commander of the Whitebeard pirates

[straws-and-sunflowers]

Angst. Not Lawlu, just angst.

[mallomars]

One piece

This is the awakened form of the Mera Mera no mi.

[faketypefan]

seeing that you all want Ace, I'll give you Ace!

Sad little fiftht division commander

[sh4nksslvt]

You Kiss Like Trouble

Ace’s habit of kissing you at the worst possible moments—mid-battle or mid-party—sparks playful chaos and heartfelt moments aboard the Moby Dick.

ace x fem! reader | ONE SHOT

tags: fluff, sfw, flirting, teasing, established relationship, kissing

a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only, so expect this ffs a bit cringe

word count: 2k

masterlist | ko-fi

The sun hung low over the horizon, painting the sea in shades of gold and crimson as the Moby Dick rocked gently on the waves. The Whitebeard Pirates were in high spirits, fresh off a successful raid against a no name crew, their laughter and clinking mugs echoing across the deck. You leaned against the railing, the salty breeze tugging at your hair, watching the chaos unfold with a fond smile. Your boyfriend, Portgas D. Ace, was at the center of it all, naturally—shirtless, as usual, his freckled chest gleaming under the fading sunlight as he arm-wrestled Thatch for the last drumstick.

“Oi, Y/N!” Ace called, his voice cutting through the din as he pinned Thatch’s arm to the table with a triumphant grin. “You gonna cheer for your man or what?”

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. “I’d cheer if you weren’t cheating, hotshot.”

“Cheating?!” Ace gasped, clutching his chest dramatically as Thatch groaned and rubbed his sore wrist. “baby, you wound me!”

The crew roared with laughter, and you couldn’t help but grin. Ace’s theatrics were as much a part of him as his flames, and you’d long since learned to roll with them. Your relationship with the Second Division Commander was a whirlwind of teasing, affection, and chaos—a perfect match for the fiery troublemaker who’d stolen your heart.

As the celebration continued, Ace sauntered over, slinging an arm around your shoulders. His skin was warm, as always, radiating heat like a living furnace. “Miss me?” he murmured, his lips brushing your ear.

You tilted your head to meet his dark eyes, smirking. “You were literally ten feet away, Ace.”

“And yet,” he said, leaning closer, “it felt like an eternity without you.”

You snorted, shoving him playfully. “You’re so full of it.”

“Only for you,” he winked, and before you could retort, he pressed a quick, soft kiss to your forehead. It was a fleeting gesture, but it sent a familiar warmth blooming in your chest. Ace had a habit of kissing you in the most unexpected moments—forehead, cheeks, nose, wherever he could land one. It was endearing, infuriating, and entirely him.

“Get a room, you two!” Marco called from across the deck, his lazy drawl laced with amusement.

“Jealous, Marco?” Ace shot back, grinning as he pulled you closer. “Don’t worry, I’ll save a kiss for you later.”

The First Division Commander chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll pass-yoi.”

The night wore on, and as the crew’s energy mellowed, you and Ace found a quiet corner of the deck. You sat cross-legged on a crate, while Ace sprawled out beside you, his head resting on your thigh. The stars were beginning to peek through the twilight sky, and the gentle lapping of waves against the ship created a soothing backdrop.

“You ever gonna stop kissing me in front of everyone?” you asked, running your fingers through his dark hair.

Ace cracked one eye open, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. “Why would I? Gotta show the world you’re mine.”

You flicked his forehead lightly. “Possessive much?”

“Only when it comes to you,” he said, catching your hand and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. “Besides...you love it.”

You huffed, but you couldn’t deny the truth in his words. There was something about Ace’s unapologetic affection that made your heart race, even after all this time. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” you muttered.

“Cute?” he echoed, sitting up suddenly. “I’m devastatingly handsome, thank you very much.”

You laughed, shoving his shoulder. “Keep telling yourself that, Fire Fist.”

He gasped, clutching his heart again. “You’re brutal tonight, Y/N. I’m gonna need some serious TLC to recover from this.”

“Oh, poor baby,” you teased, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “Better?”

Ace’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Not quite.” Before you could react, he cupped your face and pulled you into a proper kiss, his lips warm and firm against yours. It was slow and deliberate, the kind of kiss that made the world fade away. When he finally pulled back, you were both a little breathless.

“Better now?” you asked, your voice softer than you intended.

“Much,” he murmured, his thumb brushing your cheek. “But I might need a few more to be sure.”

You rolled your eyes but didn’t resist as he kissed you again, this time on the corner of your mouth. “You’re impossible,” you said between kisses, your hands finding their way to his shoulders.

“And you love it,” he repeated, his voice low and teasing.

The next morning, the Moby Dick was abuzz with preparations for a potential skirmish. Some pirate crew had been spotted nearby, and Whitebeard had ordered the crew to stay on high alert. You were in the armory, checking your weapons, when Ace strolled in, his trademark grin firmly in place.

“Morning, beautiful,” he said, leaning against the doorframe.

You glanced up from sharpening your dagger, raising an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be helping with the cannons or something?”

“Probably,” he admitted, sauntering over. “But I’d rather be here with you.”

You shook your head, trying to focus on your task. “You’re gonna get us both in trouble, Ace.”

“Trouble’s my middle name,” he said, and before you could protest, he leaned down and kissed your cheek, his lips lingering just long enough to make your pulse jump.

“Ace!” you hissed, glancing around to make sure no one had seen. “We’re in the middle of prep!”

“What?” he said innocently, stepping back with his hands raised. “Just giving my favorite person a little morale boost.”

You pointed your dagger at him, narrowing your eyes. “Do that again, and I’ll morale-boost you right into the sea.”

He laughed, undeterred, and blew you a kiss as he backed out of the room. “Love you too, Y/N!”

You groaned, but a smile tugged at your lips. Damn him and his charm.

The skirmish came sooner than expected. By midday, some crew’s ship was bearing down on the Moby Dick, cannons roaring. The deck erupted into controlled chaos as Whitebeard’s crew sprang into action. You were in the thick of it, wielding your weapon with precision, fending off attackers alongside your crewmates.

Ace, of course, was a whirlwind of fire and fury, his flames lighting up the battlefield as he took down enemies with ease. You caught glimpses of him through the fray, his grin as wild as ever, like he was having the time of his life.

You were locked in combat with a burly swordsman when you felt a familiar presence at your back. Before you could turn, Ace’s voice was in your ear, low and playful. “Looking good out here, Y/N.”

“Are you serious right now?!” you shouted, parrying a strike from your opponent.

“Dead serious,” he said, and then—to your absolute disbelief—he grabbed your waist, spun you around, and planted a quick kiss on your forehead before dodging a sword swing aimed at his head.

“Ace, what the hell?!” you yelled, shoving him away as you refocused on your attacker.

“Motivation!” he called, already sprinting toward another group of enemies, flames trailing in his wake.

You cursed under your breath, but there was no time to dwell on it. The battle raged on, and you fought with renewed vigor, partly fueled by exasperation at your boyfriend’s antics. By the time the no name crew retreated, their ship limping away in defeat, you were sweaty, bruised, and ready to strangle Ace.

You found him leaning against a mast, wiping soot from his face. “So,” he said, grinning as you approached, “how’d I do?”

You crossed your arms, glaring. “You kissed me. In the middle of a battle.”

He shrugged, completely unrepentant. “Kept you on your toes, didn’t it?”

“I could’ve been stabbed!”

“Nah,” he said, stepping closer. “I’d never let that happen.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but he cut you off with another kiss—this one on your lips, quick and fierce. “...You’re cute when you’re mad,” he said Lillolled, pulling back.

“You’re unbelievable,” you muttered, but your anger was already fading.

“Unbelievably charming?” he offered, wagging his eyebrows.

“...Unbelievably annoying,” you shot back, but you couldn’t help the smile creeping onto your face.

That night, the crew celebrated their victory with a feast. The deck was alive with music, laughter, and the clatter of plates as Thatch served up a mountain of food. You sat beside Ace, who was predictably stealing bites from your plate.

“Hey! you have your own food,” you said, swatting his hand.

“Yours tastes better,” he said with a grin, popping a piece of meat into his mouth.

You sighed, but there was no real heat behind it. Ace’s arm was slung over the back of your chair, his fingers lazily tracing circles on your shoulder. Every now and then, he’d lean over to kiss your cheek or temple, each one earning a mix of groans and cheers from the crew.

“Oi, Ace, give it a rest!” Haruta called, tossing a roll at him.

Ace caught it midair, took a bite, and smirked. “Can’t help it. My girl’s too kissable.”

You elbowed him in the ribs. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“Good,” he said, kissing your forehead again. “Gotta keep you on your toes.”

Marco, sitting across from you, shook his head. “You two are disgusting-yoi.”

“Says the guy who’s jealous,” Ace teased, dodging a napkin Marco threw at him.

As the night wound down, you and Ace slipped away to the bow of the ship, where the noise of the party was a distant hum. You leaned against the railing, staring out at the moonlit sea, while Ace stood behind you, his arms wrapped around your waist.

“You know,” you said, leaning back against him, “one of these days, your kissing habit’s gonna get us in real trouble.”

“Worth it,” he murmured, his lips brushing the side of your neck. “Every kiss with you is worth a little trouble.”

You turned in his arms, looking up at him. “You’re such a sap.”

“Only for you,” he said, his voice soft and sincere. He kissed you again, slow and deep, and this time, you didn’t protest. The world could wait a little longer.

The next few days were quieter, the crew taking time to recover and repair the ship. You and Ace spent most of your free time together, whether it was sparring on the deck, sneaking into the kitchen to steal Thatch’s snacks, or just lounging in the sun. Ace’s kisses never stopped—on your cheek while you were reading, on your nose while you were tying a knot, on your lips when no one was looking. Each one was a spark, a reminder of how much he cared.

One afternoon, you were sitting in the crow’s nest, enjoying a rare moment of solitude, when Ace climbed up to join you. He plopped down beside you, his hat dangling from its string around his neck.

“Thought I’d find you up here,” he said, leaning back on his hands.

“Needed a break from your face,” you teased, nudging him with your shoulder.

“Liar,” he said, grinning. He leaned over and kissed your cheek, then your jaw, then the corner of your mouth. “You can’t resist me.”

You laughed, pushing him away halfheartedly. “You’re relentless.”

“Relentlessly in love with you,” he said, and the sincerity in his voice caught you off guard. He must’ve noticed your expression, because he softened, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “You know that, right?”

You nodded, your throat tight. “Yeah...I know.”

He kissed you again, gentle and lingering, and you melted into it. For all his teasing and chaos, moments like this reminded you of the depth of his feelings. Ace was a lot of things—reckless, wild, infuriating—but he was also yours, heart and soul.

As you pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, his breath warm against your skin. “You’re trouble, you know that?” he murmured.

“Says the guy who kisses me in the middle of a fight,” you shot back.

He laughed, the sound vibrating through you. “Fair enough. Guess we’re both trouble.”

You smiled, wrapping your arms around his neck. “Good thing I like trouble.”

The days turned into weeks, and the Moby Dick sailed on, chasing adventure and freedom. Ace’s kisses never stopped being a source of chaos—whether it was a quick peck during a card game or a stolen makeout session in the storage room—but you wouldn’t have it any other way. He was your wildfire, your trouble, your home.

And every kiss was a promise that he’d always be there, burning bright.

[no1onepiecefan]

something that breaks my heart is how easily thatch died. thatch, the fourth division commander of the whitebeard pirates, must’ve been incredibly powerful. the whitebeard commanders we know in detail: marco, oden, ace, izou, jozu, vista, etc, are renown as some of the most powerful characters in their respective fortes each. the whitebeard pirates were titans of the pirate world, and to hold a position of power in their ranks is placing you easily among some of the most powerful in one piece almost inherently.

but thatch died without a fight to our knowledge, thatch died quietly, found in a pool of his own blood, body already cold. thatch died very literally stabbed in the back, in the middle of the night without last words that would reach anyone’s ears. it’s brutal and more than anything, it’s so unpleasantly bitter.

i think how he died is very symbolic of the whitebeard pirates as a crew. a man who, while we don’t know in combat, is at least comparable to the commanders we do know. his faith and family-orientated love was so unwavering it caused a man like that to die swiftly and silently. while blackbeard’s power pre-devil fruit is nothing to undermine, especially given the wound he gave shanks, i refuse to believe thatch wouldn’t of at least been able to defend himself briefly; long enough to be heard. thatch died with unquestioning love in his heart, not for one second was his guard up, and only in teach’s gross abuse of that trust did thatch succumb. thatch died so easily, and nothing hurts more than that.

all the whitebeard pirates died for love. oden died, tortured and shot, after holding his loved ones above his head for an hour so they wouldn’t boil alive alongside him. thatch died with unquestioning adoration, stabbed in the back by a member of his cherished family. ace died indirectly as a result of trying to avenge thatch, and directly by defending luffy in the pinnacle of marineford, protecting his little brother until his last breath. whitebeard died attempting to rescue ace, falling victim to hundreds of wounds in his path as he clambered to save his son. ultimately, the bullet that would kill him was from the gun of the son that betrayed him. izou died in sacrifice, telling his younger sister to live. he died fighting against enemies who intended to hurt ace’s little brother and who would’ve doomed his homeland if they succeeded. whitebeard pirates are so kind, love is as natural to them as breathing. i am hoping, in some way, there will be a resting conclusion to all the suffering they have been dealt so horribly. they are so full of love, and that makes their story so tragic.

[rollinouttahere-writes]

Breaking Point Chapter 3

Whitebeard Pirates x Teen GN Reader

4.3k words

First / Prev / Next

Summary: You're in the thick of it now. On a pirate ship surrounded by enemies and powerless against them. What will these bloodthirsty brutes do to you now that you're at their mercy?

Warning: mild suicidal ideation, mentions of drugging, cancer mention, trauma responses

Many questions race through your mind as Elise pushes you down the long hall of the Moby Dick. Namely: Why you? What did you do to deserve this fate? What would that fate even be?

One thing seems certain. You won't survive this. Of course you won't. You're completely defenseless around one of the most powerful pirate crews on the planet, and you're a marine. Well, a former marine, but you doubt they know or care about that fact. 

Sweat is beading on your face and back as you sit in a petrified silence because even the heavy dose of sedatives you believe they have you on can only numb your mind so much. An inescapable sense of dread looms over you, getting heavier every second as you draw nearer to the door at the end of the hall. 

Would Elise take you back to the infirmary if you pretended to faint? It might be worth a shot… Or maybe that would just make her double down on her alleged quest to get you fresh air. You're usually an enviable strategist, but your disordered and foggy thinking does nothing to bely that fact. You couldn't think your way out of a paper sack right now. 

Thatch quickens his step to get to the door first. He looks completely relaxed and carefree about this funeral procession in disguise. Which you suppose makes sense. A marine's death is probably downright mundane to a pirate. You don't fault them for such a mentality. Admittedly, a pirate's death was just as unremarkable to you as a marine. It was a fact of war. 

And now it was your turn to be a casualty of it. 

The sunbeams that shine through after the door is opened momentarily blind you, which is equal parts relieving and distressing. You're spared the sight of what is to come, but your brain is left to fill in the blanks on its own, and it never shows you less than the worst case scenario. 

Images of pirates lying in wait with their weapons at the ready flash through your mind. In your mind, they’d been given a covert heads-up that you were on route to your life’s terminus. This medical gurney would become your deathbed in a matter of seconds as they used your body as a pincushion for their weapons. 

As your eyes adjusted to the light and made sense of their surroundings, you found yourself… very much not surrounded. Thatch was there, and you could assume Elise was still the one pushing you, but no one else was in your immediate vicinity.

That’s not to say that there weren’t any other pirates here, you could see many. But they were just casually milling about with no real sense of urgency. They haven’t seen you yet. Perhaps the assumption that they knew you were coming was off base. Certainly their behavior will change once they realize you’re here.

Elise hums as she pushes you over to the taffrail so you can have a scenic ocean view as you’re murdered. How considerate. Maybe they plan to simply toss you overboard and let your devil fruit status take the reigns in your demise?

Rather than taking in the sight, you scan the open deck of the ship. More specifically, you’re logging who all is here. Much to your mounting horror, you spot a majority of the division commanders. Diamond Jozu, Flintlock Pistol Izou, Vista of the Flower Swords, all of the heavy hitters of the Whitebeard’s are lurking nearby. Even Fire Fist Ace is here, and now you don’t have the means to counter his flames. You are so dead. You wouldn’t be able to fight your way out of here even if they removed the seastone cuffs.

Lastly, your eyes settle on the large and imposing figure of Whitebeard himself. You were well versed on who he was, any marine worth their salt was, but even still you were startled by the sheer size of him. His looming frame cast a wide shadow across the deck and all the way over to you, encompassing you fully.

Height aside, there was something else that struck you about him. There was talk of his failing health, but no one had clear answers on its severity. You never would have guessed it was this bad. The drip stand behind him had multiple IV bags hanging from it, several chest tubes were attached to him, and he even had a nasal cannula that you almost missed thanks to his mustache. What appeared to be an entire ward of nurses were hard at work around him.

Then the absolute worst thing happens. While you are blatantly gawking at Whitebeard, he turns his head and makes eye contact with you. You instinctively look away and press yourself back into the thin mattress of your gurney as if it will swallow you up and take you far away from here. It does not. Woe.

A rumbling laugh rolls off of the captain as he bears witness to your nonsensical actions. You sink back even more, but you can’t help but look his way again. He’s still looking at you, and he appears to be amused more than anything. It seems strange to you at first, but you suppose someone like yourself really doesn’t prompt a serious reaction from someone as powerful as him. You were nothing to him even in peak condition. Even in his poor health, you know better than to underestimate him.

His grin was relaxed as he regarded you. “So you’re finally awake,” he shifts and props his chin up on one hand, “and in better spirits, I hope?”

What the hell were you supposed to do with that? Answering felt ridiculous, but ignoring him felt downright stupid. Whitebeard wasn’t someone that you could just up and snub! That would be like telling Big Mom to piss off! Should you be honest and say that no, your spirits are in fact quite abysmal, or are you supposed to lie and say that you’re just peachy keen?! Oh, but now you’ve been silently staring at him for too long, you’re making it weird! In a frantic attempt to save face and not give him a reason to be angry at you, you nod your head up and down and blurt out an answer, “I-I’m fine, sir!”

Whitebeard’s eyebrows raise slightly, then he laughs again, this time much harder. Probably over the way your voice cracked, if you had to guess. You sounded like one of the fresh recruits rather than a seasoned marine. Akainu would never approve of you speaking in such a disgraceful manner.

“It’s been a while since someone called me that. You can drop the formalities, my child, this is a pirate ship.”

What did he just call you? Is he… belittling you? By using such a juvenile term to describe you, it certainly felt that way. Is this a joke to him? Are you a joke to him?

“Hey!” You're startled by the sudden proximity of a new voice. You break away from your staring contest with an Emperor and see that Fire Fist Ace is strolling on over to you. He flashes a relaxed, boyish grin your way and perches himself up on the railing next to you. “You're looking like you're feeling better. That's a relief.”

A relief? You fail to see how that would be “relieving” to anyone here. You eye the pirate suspiciously, trying to figure out what he's up to. He's seemingly trying to get you to lower your guard, though you have no idea why. Such a tactic is unnecessary when you're already physically restrained and weakened. As you size him up, you notice some bandages on his right hand. 

Isn't he supposed to be a logia fruit user? Injuries shouldn't be a problem for him. 

Ace follows your gaze to his hand. “Oh, you don't have to worry about that. It's not that bad, I'll be fine.” He lifts the hand up and flexes it open and shut as if to prove his statement.

His wording confuses you. Is he implying that you have a reason to be worried about that? Did you do that to him? Surely you didn't. Your zoan fruit would be largely ineffective in a physical attack against him, and you feel pretty confident in assuming that you didn't spontaneously develop Armament Haki and then forget about it. 

Damn whatever medicine they gave you and the memory loss that came with it. This situation is bad enough as it stands. You don't need to heap confusion on top of it. 

“So this is the marine you and Marco caught? I'll admit I was expecting a bit more… fury?” The flower swords wielder, Vista, had come up on your other side and was now bent down to examine you closely. “Come on, don't you have some threats to shout? Curses to hurl?”

Before your sluggish body can retreat back from having your personal space invaded, Elise pushes his face away with a huff and then swats at the hand he had placed on the sidebar of your gurney. She speaks sternly, reminding you of a mother scolding a child, “Don't antagonize them, I much prefer them like this to how they were. And watch where you're putting your hands, you almost snagged the IV line.”

Yet again, you were in awe of her fearlessness when confronting infamous pirates. Was she truly that brave, or was she somehow naive to how dangerous criminals like these people can be?

Vista, shockingly, immediately concedes and holds his hands up in a placating manner, “Sorry, Sorry! I'll be more careful next time, ‘lise!” 

Elise rolls her eyes, but there's a playful lilt to her tone, “Yeah right, I'm sure I'll have to correct you again before my shift is over, flower boy.”

The way they conversed reminded you of what you'd hear amongst your platoon. A well earned rapport built up over months or even years of a kind of teamwork that can only be wrought from surviving life threatening situations together. Genuinely speaking, you'd never really thought about the fact that pirates would have such bonds. The treachery and the survival of the fittest mindsets that were so commonplace in piracy would surely sabotage such a relationship from forming, right?

Dwelling on this puzzling revelation isn't really an option for you, unfortunately. Not when more of Whitebeard's crew was encroaching on you. 

No doubt, you were probably something of a roadside attraction to them. A (former) high ranking marine whose reputation was built around the fact that you were the child of Admiral Akainu, but now you were reduced to some aloof inpatient strapped to a bed. You suppose the way they stare at you isn't all that far off how you gawked at their captain. Both were sorry falls from grace- not that you would ever even think to dare to say that of Whitebeard. The drugs in your system were keeping you from being that suicidal. 

Ace slipped down from the railing and propped an arm up on the top of your raised up gurney. As you turn your head to see what he's up to, his other arm darts out and tosses your blanket up over you so that it's covering your exposed arm. 

For a moment, you're just vaguely confused. What was the point of that? Did he think- and moreover, care- that you were cold? You stare down at where the thin sheet is draped over your arm, hoping that answers will jump out at you given that you've been sorely lacking in them today. What about your arm was worth hiding?

Wait. 

The scar. 

He was covering up your burn for you. In typical fashion, you feel a distinct lack of clarity despite technically getting an answer. Everyone on this damned ship spoke nonsense, and their behavior was even more mystifying. What was his angle? What did he have to gain from helping you cover a scar before the whole crew could spot it? His expression belies no clear answer. He's looking away and acting like he didn't do anything. 

More and more pirates were meandering over to you, which kept you from trying to press the Fire Fist for answers. Flintlock Pistol Izou was standing near the foot of the bed and looming over you with an intimidating presence as his eyes pierced into yours, seemingly looking for something that only he knows about. 

His painted lips quirk into a half smile, “So what is it like to be on a pirate ship for the first time?”

The straps on your legs and the handcuff around one of your wrists are brought fully to your attention following his question. You make a display out of squirming uncomfortably against them, “A little restrictive, if I'm being honest.” Also terrifying, but you aren't about to vocalize that. 

Some chuckles echo through the crowd you've amassed. Thatch shifts on his feet, then consults Elise, “It wouldn't hurt to let them walk around, would it?”

Elise sighs and looks conflicted, “It would be good for them to stretch their legs, but I was hoping to wait until Marco was back before we tried that.”

Hold on. Were they seriously considering it? Wow. You really aren't shit to them if they're fine with the idea of freeing you. It's a bit of a blow to your ego, frankly.

Vista interjects, “All of us are here, we can help keep an eye on them.” Elise makes a hum of continued uncertainty, so he tacks on, “Just let the kid walk around a bit, it’ll be fine.”

“Fine,” Elise relents. “I'll go get a portable stand for the IV.” She fishes a key out of her pocket and hands it to Thatch before departing. Given that she was the closest thing you had to a safety net around these pirates, her absence was immediately felt. To an extent, you felt like she was keeping everyone else at bay, but now they were free to act however they want.

Thatch approaches you casually, coming off as entirely unconcerned about what you may or may not do upon release. His carefree attitude left you feeling enviable. You were anything but right now. Your eyes flit back and forth between the faces of everyone crowded around you. There had to be dozens of people circling you, not counting Whitebeard himself in the distance. 

Yeah, it made sense why no one was worried about you harming anyone. You had no chance against anyone here, even one-on-one. The whole mob could easily tear you to shreds. Why they hadn’t already was beyond you. Maybe they wanted you free first for the sport of the hunt. Not that there would be much of a hunt. There was nothing in this world left for you to flee to. Laying down and dying was much more appealing than fighting a pointless battle.

The cuff that was locked around a bar on the bed clicks open. Thatch stares at the other one, looking considerably more uncertain about undoing that one. He gnaws at his lip for a moment, then sighs, “We should probably leave that one on until Marco’s here. Let me just…” He holds the cuff on your wrist, grabs the chain connecting it to the other, and then rips it clean off on the first try. “There we go. That should be more comfortable.”

For a few seconds, you just stare at him wide-eyed. That casual display of strength HAD to be an intimidation tactic. This was apparently absolutely nothing new to him, seeing as all that he did after casually ripping apart seastone cuffs was set to work on undoing the straps still holding down your legs.

This crew really was on a whole other level from anyone else. They’d earned the right to be a part of an Emperor’s army.

Once all of your limbs were free, he held out his hands to you, “Here, let me help you down.”

“No,” you recoil back and shake your head, “I can do that on my own.” Thatch holds his hands up and steps back to give you space, which surprises you, but you try not to dwell on it. You resituate the sheet so that it’s draped around you like a shawl and covering your arm. You’ll just say you’re cold if anyone asks. You slide off the gurney and onto your feet, then immediately start backing away from the crowd.

But Vista abruptly grabs your arm and pulls you back. Involuntarily, you flinch. Your shoulders jump up and your free arm raises into a defensive stance. Here it was. This was it. The pack was ready to tear you limb from limb for everything that you’d done as a marine.

“Whoa there.” His grip on your arm loosens, enough to be noticeable, but not enough for you to be able to pull away. “I didn’t mean to scare you, but you were going to rip your IV out if you kept going.”

Your… Oh. Dammit. You’re so stupid! In a sorry attempt to save face, you mutter out a quiet, “I wasn’t scared.” Ugh. That sounded fake even to you. The slight tremble in your voice was a dead giveaway. How pathetic. You get a little bit of drugs in your system and you’re reduced to a whimpering cowardly mess.

Vista hesitantly releases your arm, his hand hovering over it briefly to see if you’d try to move away again. You didn’t. He pats your shoulder before pulling away, “See? Everything is okay.”

It most certainly was not, but you don’t say as much. You’ve made enough of a fool of yourself. The last thing you needed was to keep running your mouth and start crying or something else humiliating like that. You pull the blanket around yourself tighter and stare down at your feet. There wasn’t much of a point in watching the people around you when there was nothing you could do about them. Whatever happens, happens. 

A door opens nearby, and you can hear a set of footsteps and the sound of wheels rolling over the wooden flooring of the deck. Pink shoes come into your line of sight. Elise is back. The liquid inside the IV bag swishes softly as she moves it to the mobile stand, “There we go! How are you feeling? Are you lightheaded at all?”

You shake your head, “No. I’m fine.” You hazard a glance at Elise and see her smiling back at you. What was there to be so damned happy about?

Her smile persists despite your terse response, “That’s great! Now, what do you want to do?”

Huh? “What do I… want to do?”

“Yeah. Do you want to go for a walk? We could go to the kitchen and get you something to eat if you’re still hungry.” She stares at your mystified expression expectantly, but her smile starts to droop when all you do is continue to stare at her. “Or we could do something else if you want. What do you usually do for fun?”

“For fun? I was a marine, I didn’t have time for “fun”, don’t be ridiculous.” Your entire life has been training, sparring, and studying. Fun was for children, not soldiers.

Elise’s mouth hangs open in surprise, the smile finally gone. She shakes her head and steps closer to you, “Hey now, don’t say that! Come on, surely you had at least one hobby. Like something that you did to relax after a long day?”

“To relax after a long day? You mean sleeping?”

“No!” Elise pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs sharply, “No, I mean an activity, not something you have to do to survive. Something fun.” You just stare at her blankly, and her hands find purchase on her hips, “Give me an example. Tell me something that someone might do for fun. It can be anyone or anything.”

Why was she so hung up on this? You huff out a sigh and look down at the floor again. What was something “fun”? Well, one thing comes to mind. Memories of Akainu tending to his precious bonsai trees flash behind your eyes. “Does gardening count?”

“Yes! Do you like gardening?”

“No.” Your expression twists into a bitter scowl, “I do not.” You hated those damned trees. They were completely useless, yet Akainu treated them better than anything and anyone.

“O-Okay! Um, how about we try something new then?” It would seem the hatred within your words took her by surprise. It honestly surprised you a little, too. You never emoted this much.

Similarly, you were never this confused, “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you should give a new hobby a try. I think that would help you to feel much better.” Elise is smiling hopefully at you.

She really was bound and determined on this matter, wasn’t she? “What am I even supposed to do?”

Thatch steps forward, “A lot of people enjoy baking as a hobby. I could show you the ropes if you’ll let me.”

Izou speaks up next, “Tea preparation can be an artform in and of itself if you take it seriously enough. You could try that.”

Elise claps her hand together, “Oh, what about watercoloring? I would be more than happy to share my supplies with you!”

Everyone around you starts calling out random hobbies with enthusiasm. Sewing, reading, flower pressing, hiking, pottery, origami, fishing, the suggestions don’t end. This was completely and utterly baffling. It was entirely nonsensical. They should be killing you, or ransoming you at the very least. Why were they doing this?

What even was this? You didn’t have a word to describe their actions.

—

Teach sat away from the crowd. He had no desire to be around that cutthroat little shit. Last time he was this close to you, you damn near slit his throat open. His finger ghosts over the scar on his neck from where one of your talons cut him. Had you aimed just a little higher, his jugular would have been torn open.

What the fuck was Whitebeard thinking? His old age was definitely getting to him.

A quick glance up at the captain all but confirmed his thoughts. The old man was watching the spectacle with open bemusement. He’s definitely gone soft. An unsurprising development given his poor health. Anyone’s mind would begin deteriorating when cancer was eating them alive from the inside out.

“Are you really sure about this, old man?” He can’t help himself, he needs more insight on what’s running through that fool’s mind.

Whitebeard turns his head to look at him, “Am I sure about what?”

“That marine.”

“That child is no more a threat than any of the nurses on board.” Teach begged to differ on that front. The worst any of them had done to him was wrinkle their noses at him. “Besides, from what Marco told me about what they said after being captured, it sounds to me like they are a former marine.”

Does that make any difference? Once a marine, always a marine. Hating and killing pirates was in your blood.

A quiet, rumbling chuckle escapes Whitebeard, “Come now, don’t tell me you’re scared of the kid.”

“Me? Scared? Perish the thought!” Teach laughs and hopes that it sounds convincing. “I would just hate to see anyone get hurt because of them.”

His concern is waved off, “You worry too much, my son. They aren’t going to hurt anyone, I can tell. I’ve been around for a long time, I have become a good judge of character by this point.”

Teach chuckles at his words, “Yeah, you’re right, pops. Sorry I ever doubted you.” Good judge of character, his ass. What a stupid old fool.

“Pops!” One of the crew members not fawning over the marine hurries over to the captain. What was his name? Teach couldn’t be bothered to remember. There were far too many people crammed onto this ship for that.

“Yes, Colsman?” How the hell was Whitebeard able to keep track of all these names and the unremarkable faces attached to them? Ridiculous. 

“You have a call coming in.”

Whitebeard sighs, “That Admiral really isn’t getting the hint, is he?”

“It isn’t coming from Marineford.” Colsman inches closer, a combination of confusion and apprehension on his face, “It’s originating from Totto Land.”

That definitely got the old man’s attention. And Teach’s, if he’s being honest. Big Mom was quite literally the last person he was expecting to hear from today. Whitebeard sits up straight, “What does Lin Lin want?”

“That’s the weird part, it isn’t Big Mom on the line. It’s a different woman, but she’s adamantly refusing to disclose who she is to anyone but you. She insists that the matter is urgent and involves,” he cocks his head back at the marine, “them.”

Whitebeard stares at Colsman, then at you. He nods, “Very well. I’ll take the call in my quarters.” The nurses all set to work on mobilizing his medical equipment to follow him, and Teach finds himself wanting to do the same. Then again, he’s sure that the nurses will be forced out of the room for the duration of the call. He doubts that he’d be able to eavesdrop without being caught.

Teach looks over at the marine again. What could the Big Mom Pirates possibly want with you? Was there some use to you that he wasn’t aware of? He supposes that he’ll have ample opportunity to find out so long as he continues playing his cards right.

Your wings have been clipped, after all. He doesn’t need to be scared of you now.

Taglist: @twotrucksinatree @tigerstarstorm @mu5hro0m @brooks-real @one-piecelover @ratchetprime211 @ithoughtthinks @simpfor2dpeoole @vinillies @selfindulgenceisthekey

[latanyalove]

Loves On Fire

Summary: Ace thinks that you're going to fall out of love with him because of how he travels a lot but you could never.

Song: Friends · Chase Atlantic

Author’s note: Please like, reblog and share this! Also please follow for more! 🫶

The salt spray kissed your face as you stood on the docks of Dawn Island, the familiar scent bringing a bittersweet ache to your chest. The Striker, Ace's ship, loomed large and imposing before you, sails already unfurled, eager to catch the wind.

You watched him, Fire Fist Ace, Commander of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. He was a whirlwind of controlled chaos, his black hair tousled by the breeze, that familiar mischievous grin plastered on his face as he barked orders to his crew.

He moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, a confidence that both thrilled and terrified you.

He caught your eye, and his entire demeanor softened. The boisterous commander vanished, replaced by the slightly awkward, endearingly clumsy man you knew. He waved, a wide, genuine smile splitting his face, and you returned it, trying to ignore the knot forming in your stomach.

He bounded towards you, his pace quickening with each step. “Hey, Y/N!" he greeted, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down your spine. He smelled of smoke and adventure, a potent combination that always left you breathless.

“Ace,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. You wanted to say so much more - I’ll miss you. Be safe. Come back to me. But the words caught in your throat.

He reached out, cupping your cheek with his scarred hand. His touch was warm, grounding. "I won't be gone long, you know," he said, his eyes searching yours.

You forced a smile. "I know. Just...be careful."

He chuckled, a low, reassuring sound. "When am I ever not careful?" He winked, but you saw the flicker of something else in his eyes, a shadow of doubt you hadn't noticed before.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Hey, Y/N... You’re not… you’re not going to get tired of this, are you? Of me being gone all the time?”

The question hung in the air, heavy and laced with insecurity. It was the elephant in the room, the unspoken fear that had haunted your relationship since day one.

Ace, Fire Fist Ace, a man who commanded the respect of the entire Grand Line, was afraid of losing you.

You took a deep breath, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. You understood his worry. His life was a constant whirlwind of missions, battles, and adventures.

He was rarely in one place for long, and your time together was always fleeting, snatched moments amidst the chaos. It was easy to see why he might think you’d grow tired of it, that you’d yearn for a more stable, predictable life.

But he was wrong. So wrong.

“Ace,” you said, your voice firm despite the tremor in your hands. “Look at me.”

He did, his black eyes wide and vulnerable.

“Do you honestly think,” you continued, “that a few weeks, a few months, even a few years, could possibly diminish what I feel for you?”

He didn't answer, his gaze fixed on yours, searching for any sign of deceit.

You took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I love you, Ace. Not just the idea of you, not just the thrill of your adventures, but you. The man who burns with passion, the man who protects his crew, the goofy idiot who falls asleep in the middle of meals, the man who's scared of losing me even though he's the most fearless person I know."

You paused, letting your words sink in. "Your travels, your missions, they're a part of who you are. They're in your blood. I wouldn't want to change that, even if I could. And honestly," you added with a playful nudge, "who else is going to bring back the weird and wonderful souvenirs you always seem to find?"

A slow smile spread across his face, chasing away the shadows that had clouded his eyes.

"So, you're saying my collection of miniature sea king statues is a contributing factor to our unwavering love?"

You laughed, relieved to see him back to his old self. "It certainly helps." You leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "What I'm saying is that I love all of you, Ace. The part that stays here with me, and the part that sails the seas. The distance doesn't matter. The fact that I would follow you to the ends of the earth should explain my side more clearly."

He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. "I love you too, Y/N. More than anything." He buried his face in your hair, inhaling deeply. "I just… I don’t ever want to lose you.”

You hugged him tighter, feeling his heart beating steadily against yours. “You won’t, Ace. I promise.”

He pulled back, his expression serious. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "For understanding. For being you."

He paused, then a mischievous glint returned to his eyes. "But just so you know, those miniature sea king statues are collector's items. They'll be worth a fortune someday!"

You rolled your eyes, laughing again. "Of course they are. Only you, Ace."

The ship's bell chimed, signaling his departure. He laced his fingers through yours one last time. "I have to go," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

"I know," you replied, trying to keep your voice steady.

He leaned down and kissed you, a deep, lingering kiss that promised a swift return. When he pulled away, his eyes were bright with determination.

"I'll be back before you know it," he said. "And I'll bring you something even better than a miniature sea king this time."

With a final squeeze of your hand, he turned and strode towards the Striker, his figure silhouetted against the rising sun. You watched him go, your heart aching with longing, but also filled with a quiet confidence.

As the ship pulled away from the docks, Ace stood at the helm, waving to you until you were just a speck in the distance. You raised your hand in response, a silent promise echoing in your heart.

The days that followed were long and filled with a quiet solitude. You threw yourself into your work, helping the villagers, tending to your garden, and spending time with your friends.

You wrote letters to Ace, pouring out your thoughts and feelings onto the page, knowing that he would treasure them when he finally received them.

You missed him terribly, of course. The evenings were especially hard, when the silence of your small cottage seemed to amplify the absence of his laughter, his touch, his very presence.

But you refused to let the loneliness consume you.

You knew that Ace was out there, fighting, exploring, living his life to the fullest. And you trusted him to come back to you, just as he had promised.

One evening, weeks later, as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the island, you were sitting on your porch, reading a book. Suddenly, a familiar voice shattered the peaceful silence.

"Y/N!"

You looked up, your heart leaping in your chest. Standing before you, grinning from ear to ear, was Ace. He was tanned and windswept, his clothes slightly rumpled, but his eyes were shining with happiness.

"Ace!" you cried, jumping to your feet and running towards him.

He caught you in his arms, lifting you off the ground and spinning you around. "I'm back!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy.

You laughed, tears streaming down your face. "I see that! I missed you so much!"

He set you down, his gaze searching yours. "I missed you too," he said, his voice soft. "More than you know."

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. "I told you I'd bring you something better than a miniature sea king," he said with a wink.

You opened the box, and gasped. Inside, nestled on a bed of soft velvet, was a single, perfect seashell. It was iridescent in the fading light, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.

"It's beautiful," you whispered, your voice choked with emotion.

"I found it on a deserted island," Ace explained. "It reminded me of you. Strong, resilient, and full of inner beauty."

He took your hand, placing the seashell in your palm. "Keep it with you," he said. "As a reminder that no matter how far apart we are, my heart will always be with you."

You closed your hand around the shell, holding it tight. "Thank you, Ace," you said. "For everything."

He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that reached his eyes. "So," he said, his voice playful again. "What do you say we go inside, and I tell you all about my adventures?"

You looped your arm through his, and together, you walked towards the house, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and gold.

As you listened to Ace's stories, you knew, with absolute certainty, that your love was stronger than any distance, any challenge, any fear.

Ace thought you'd fall out of love with him because of his constant travels. He thought you'd grow tired of the uncertainty, the loneliness, the fleeting moments.

But he was wrong. He was so wrong. Because your love for him was a fire that burned brighter with each passing day, a flame that no amount of distance could ever extinguish. And you were ready to spend a lifetime showing him just how wrong he was.

You were ready to show him that some things, some loves, were simply meant to be. And yours, with Fire Fist Ace, was one of them. That shell, a precious gift from the grand line, stood as a testament to your love, a symbol of a bond that transcended the vast oceans and the perilous adventures.

It was a promise whispered on the wind, a reminder that even across the widest expanse, your hearts would forever remain intertwined. . . .

The raucous cheers still rang in your ears as you walked down the hallway, the scent of sake and grilled meat clinging to your clothes. The party was still going strong on the deck of the Moby Dick, the entire Whitebeard crew celebrating Ace's triumphant return.

A broad smile stretched across your face, mirroring the joy that bubbled within you. You had almost lost him. The thought sent a shiver down your spine, a stark reminder of the fear that had gnawed at you during his mission.

You pushed open the door to Ace's room, a space that had felt eerily empty during his absence. Now, with him lounging on the bed, his signature freckled face relaxed and content, the room felt like it was finally breathing again.

You had spent countless hours in here, curled up with a book, lost in thought, or simply waiting, hoping for his safe return.

"It's good to be back," Ace murmured, his voice a low rumble that resonated through the small space. He stretched, his muscles flexing beneath his sweat-stained shirt. "Thanks for waiting for me."

You chuckled, nudging him playfully with your foot. "Someone had to make sure your room didn't turn into a den of rats while you were gone."

He grinned. "And I appreciate it. You're the best, Y/N)"

The warmth of his words settled over you, a comforting blanket against the lingering chill of worry. "Glad to have you back, idiot. Now, if you'll excuse me," you said, turning towards the door, "I'm going to find you some clothes. You reek of gunpowder and sea salt, Ace."

His hand shot out, gripping your wrist with surprising strength. "Y/N," he said softly, his voice a low drawl that sent a familiar flutter through your stomach. "Where do you think you're going?"

You laughed, trying to ignore the way your heart was suddenly hammering against your ribs. "I told you, Ace. I wanted to get you some new clothes. You stink."

He smirked, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. "What if I took them off?"

The words hung in the air, thick with unspoken desire. Your breath hitched, your cheeks flushing despite your best efforts to remain nonchalant. You swallowed hard, trying to regain your composure.

You knew exactly what he was doing, and you knew you shouldn’t be caught up in it. Not yet, at least. But the pull was undeniable, the magnetic force between you almost unbearable.

"Ace," you began, attempting a scolding tone, but your voice wavered slightly. "There's still a party going on. People will notice if you're suddenly missing."

He tugged you closer, your back now pressed against the door. The heat radiating from his body was intoxicating, his scent a heady mix of smoke and something uniquely him.

"Let them wonder," he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I've been away for too long. I need to... readjust."

Your gaze flickered to his lips, drawn by an invisible force. His eyes were locked on yours, a silent invitation to lose yourself in the moment.

You knew this game, and you knew you were losing.

He always had this effect on you, a potent blend of charm and raw desire that melted your resistance.

"Ace, stop," you breathed, but the words lacked conviction.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing against your ear. "Make me," he whispered, and a jolt of electricity shot through you.

Your hand instinctively reached up, tangling in his raven hair. "You're impossible," you mumbled, your voice barely audible.

"Only for you," he replied, his lips now tracing the curve of your jaw.

The dam finally broke. You surrendered to the need that had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks, months even. You tilted your head back, giving him better access.

"God, I missed you," your voice was shaky.

Ace pulled back slightly, his eyes searching yours. "Missed you too, Y/N. More than you know."

You looked at him with a soft expression, the joy of his return still bubbling inside you. "Show me."

He didn't need any further encouragement. His lips crashed down on yours, a kiss that was both demanding and tender, a perfect reflection of the man you loved. You met him with equal fervor, your hands exploring the familiar contours of his back, feeling the hard muscles beneath his worn shirt.

The kiss deepened, tongues dancing, bodies pressing together. The world outside the small cabin faded away, leaving only the two of you, entangled in a web of desire and relief.

He slowly broke the kiss, his breath ragged. He looked down at you, his eyes filled with a passion that made your heart pound even harder. "I want you, Y/N," he said roughly, his voice thick with need.

You swallowed hard, your gaze unwavering. "I want you too, Ace," you breathed.

He wasted no time. His hands reached for the hem of your shirt, slowly pulling it up and over your head. You reciprocated, fumbling with the buttons of his own, eager to feel his skin against yours.

The room quickly became littered with discarded clothing, tangible evidence of the urgency that consumed you both.

The party continued to rage on the deck, oblivious to the intimate scene unfolding in Ace's cabin. The sounds of laughter and music were a distant hum, drowned out by the pounding of your heart and the rasp of Ace's breath against your skin.

He lifted you onto the bed, his hands roaming over your body, igniting a fire in their wake. You met his gaze, your eyes mirroring the desire that burned within him.

He leaned down, his lips finding yours again, and you lost yourself in the moment, in the taste of him, the feel of him, the sheer, unadulterated joy of being in his arms again. . . .

[livelaughloveluffy]

love languages - portgas d. ace

a/n: did you miss me? because i'm now back and better than ever!!!! hehe but seriously, i appreciate all the love and support from everyone during my hiatus, things were very overwhelming for a minute there, but i'm all good now!!

a/n: DEAR LORDDDDD, i can't believe this has been sitting in my drafts since january😭😭so this fic has been longggg overdue. since i am now offering commissions this summer, i have to dust off my fic writing skills!!! and i miss ace dearly, so this WIP was just calling my name 😌

nothing but fluff here 💗

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how he shows love:

quality time - there is nothing in this world that ace loves more, than being by your side. having you resting in his lap with his arms wrapped around your waist as you read, sharing meals together, star-gazing, picnics, exploring new islands together. this man goes out of his way to always be near you. and he just can't help it, his smile is much warmer and wider with you around, the tension visibly leaves his body, and he feels completely at ease. ace adores planning dates for the two of you, and he always comes up with the most fun-filled days!!

physical touch - nothing helps ace wind down and relax like the feeling of your soft skin against his, his fingers tangled amongst your silky hair, as he gently traces lines and patterns down your spine with the pad of his fingers. the sweet alluring scent of your perfume filling up the air between the two of you. he'll use any and every opportunity he can to pull you into his arms. it's not often that the whitebeard pirates can converse with ace, without the man draping himself around you, both arms thrown over your shoulders, resting his chin atop your head, with the brightest freckled smile.

how he feels loved:

physical touch - something inside of ace just melts when he feels the soft touch of your hand against his bare back. the smallest smile growing on his lips as he can feel your fingers intertwine with his. the rosy blush that covers his cheeks as you place kisses in between his brows. the soft placement of your hand on his thigh when the two of you sit together during meals. every whisper of your touch becomes a grand gesture of your affection in ace's mind. he'll dialogue and commit to memory, each and every individual moment of physical contact, and think back on them whenever he's missing you or feeling down.

words of affirmation - while the second division commander of the whitebeard pirates has no lack of confidence or self-assurance, ace can stand a bit taller and prouder with your words of encouragement whispered in his ear, replaying in his head, and plaguing his thoughts. it warms his heart to hear from the person he adores the most; that he is doing a good job, his presence brings you value, joy, and love, and knowing the impact he has made on you.

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[one-sunny]

Bounty

Portgas D. Ace x F!Reader drabble

Summary: When your bounty sees a significant increase without seemingly any reason, Ace comes to terms with himself that it is all his fault. angsty, typical Ace hating his father behavior

Masterlist

“They’re here!”

Thatch’s voice booms as he bursts into the room. A bright grin is plastered on his face and a few of the other crew members sit up eagerly as the stack of papers are slapped down onto the table.

Marco makes the move to snatch them up as everyone watches in anticipation.

It was that time of month again. When bounty posters were sent out and the Whitebeards eagerly waiting to see if any of their bounties increased. Most of the time, they only saw an increase in the commanders, namely Marco and Ace. They were the first and second division commanders, after all, and were often sent out on their own missions.

You were always at Ace’s side during this, beaming with pride at your boyfriend. There was, of course, some nerves about your love being a wanted man. But you were a pirate with your own bounty anyways.

That thought stops short as a hand claps on your shoulder. “Looky here.” Marco offers out one of the papers towards you. Your own image reflects back at you, a smug expression on your dirty face, and a new amount on the poster that nearly rivals Ace’s bounty.

Now, of course, you were a Whitebeard Pirate. An enemy of the government. A nuisance to the world. A pirate with a rather high bounty for the things that you had done.

But those things that you had done couldn’t justify this.

You jump into chatter with the crew, voicing your shock, and being hyped up by the others. The only silent party in that moment was Ace. He sat close by your side, staring back at your pretty face printed into the paper, nausea wrecking him in that moment. It had been a long time since you had went out for a mission. A long time since you wrecked havoc. A long time since you had done anything to justify such an increase.

And that fact made him want to jump into the sea. Because the only thing that you had done to warrant this was be seen with him. To allow others to witness you holding his hand. Kissing him. Sharing those moments together that you often did on the ship, so why would it matter when you were docked? But his past haunted him, looming over him and ready to strike when it saw fit.

He was the son of a monster. A bloodline to squash. And you? You could be the key to continuing his bloodline. To carry on the pest of the Fire Fists. To bring more descendants of Gol D Roger into the world.

The world government couldn’t have that.

Ace places a hand on your leg and squeezes the flesh, eyes fluttering shut, trying desperately to ground himself. To not blames himself for this, just as he did everything else. Just as he knew you would tell him not to do.

And yet, it wasn’t enough. He abruptly stands from the table as eyes turn in confusion and stalks out of the room. Met with the salty air, he attempts to allow the familiarity to wash over him. To calm himself.

None of it is working, however, and he feels his temperature rising. He wanted to burst into flames. To send a flaming fist right into what ever government official made he decision to raise the stakes on your life. To burn it all.

“Ace, what’s going-“ A hand places on his bicep, an attempt to comfort, but you immediately jerk back as if your fingers were seared. They hadn’t been but you were certain it would happen if the man spiraled any further.

“Sorry, i’m sorry.” He takes a deep breath before reaching out to you, delicately taking your hand in his to kiss the tips of your fingers. “I’m okay, it’s just, sorry.” Ace quickly shakes his head as he feels tears pricking at his eyes.

His fault.

A monster.

You’re ever observant of the shift in his eyes. It wasn’t unfamiliar to you. “You’re clearly not okay, my love, what’s going on?” You coax the man closer to you, placing your hands over his chest to feel his heart hammering in its place.

His eyes are cast to the ground in shame.

Hands slide up to cup his cheeks, “Come on, get out of that head of yours.”

Ace sighs lowly and allows himself to relax into your embrace. He still feels hot, but not nearly as intense as the inferno threatened to be. “Your bounty.” Ace simply states, continuing before you could roll your eyes and dismiss it. “Feel like it’s my fault it went up.”

“Why on earth would that be your fault?” You laugh.

Ace sighs again, grabbing your wrists to guide your hands from his face. He didn’t want space from you but he feared what would happen if you continued to be close to him. If the world deemed you too to be a monster. “You know about my past. About him.” The way he speaks the word with venom allows you to easily catch up. “The world government doesn’t even want me alive, if we ever have kids,” He shakes his head. “It would be a man hunt until they were found.”

A wave of emotions hits you at once, battling against each other. On one hand, Ace had thought about having children with you. That thought made your heart soar. On the other hand… those children would be enemies of the government before they were even born.

“Maybe we-“ His voice breaks and he takes a step further away from you. “Maybe we shouldn’t be together anymore. I care about you too much to see you be taken out over-“

“Shut up.” Your voice is stern, but it lacks any anger. Ace’s mouth gapes open as he stares at you almost dumbfounded. “That’s not even in the realm of possibilities, Ace, I’m in love with you and there’s no way I’m turning my back on you because of the world government.” You scoff at the thought. “Those guys have wanted me dead for a while now but I’m still here. I’m still standing.”

“But this is different.” He sighs exasperatedly. “You’re worth a lot more now, your bounty is almost as high as mine is! That means the big name bounty hunters are gonna be after you-“

“And i’ll be able to handle myself.” You cross your arms defiantly.

“I know,” He sighs, pinching the bridge of his freckled nose. “But one wrong move-“

“It’s always been like that, Ace.” You sigh loudly. “I was wanted well before I met you, so you can stop blaming yourself.” Stepping closer to him, closing the gap that he opened, you reach out to him again. “The world government has never controlled our lives before.” You hold his cheeks and meet his watery gaze. “They’re not gonna start now.”

“It’s not like that-“

“Do you love me?” You prompt.

Ace rolls his eyes at the more than obvious answer. “Of course I do, but that’s the problem-“

“Well, I’m in love with you.” You declare. “And when we told each other that, we agreed to face the world together.” His eyes close for a moment and he takes a deep breath. “I don’t want to face this world with anyone else.”

His eyes meet yours again and you can already tell his resolve has dropped. Left entirely defenseless. “Even if it could get you killed?”

“Even then.”

With a deep sigh, Ace steps forwards to embrace you fully. His forehead rests against your own as you run your hand over his tattooed back, a shiver running down his spine and making you smile. Fingers guide your chin to tilt up until your lips meet his, soft and warm. A gentle kiss filled with all the warmth and emotion he held for you.

When he finally pulls away, he is smiling.

Taking this as a sign that your playful Ace was back, a mischievous smile pulls to your lips. “So,” You begin, leaning against his well built chest. “Wanna circle back around to you wanting me to have your babies? That whole thing?”

Ace sighs dejectedly as he rolls his eyes at you, “Shut up.”

[clare-875]

Come Home (Ace x Reader)

_____ Pairing: Ace x Female Reader Summary: What if coming home to you was more important? Warnings: Angst/Fluff, SPOILERS for Marineford War Arc, Descriptions of pregnancy [One Piece Masterlist] _____

"He said something bad about pops."

Despite others fleeing the sight of Whitebeard and the final form of him standing in his strength and safety, eyes turn to Ace who stands unmoving amid Akainu's provocative words. "Whitebeard will die a loser! A fitting death for the admiral of a mountain of garbage!" Ace feels the harsh grit of his teeth as he remains rooted and stubborn. He mocked the man who saved him. The man who gave him purpose when he felt unworthy of love or life. The man who gifted days upon the sea with a crew that truly accepted him. The man who sacrifices himself now for his beloved sons and their safety. However, Ace, lost in his rage at Akainu's words also ignores those of his comrades around him who fought tooth and nail to retrieve him safe and sound. Luffy looks questioningly at Ace's rigid form, tired after the poison that had invaded his skin and the countless battles he had faced for his brother. As he takes the bait, Ace does not see the glint in Akainu's eyes.

"Don't listen to him Ace, come on!"

"Ace?!"

"Ace don't stop, keep running!"

"Ace!!"

Among the crew is Marco and he witnesses the second division commander stop; his closest crewmate stop. But all he feels is burning rage. However, his anger is not directed at Akainu and the words he places so purposefully and alluringly towards them, but at the sight of his friend giving up on a promise he had made several months ago. He hates that Ace now hesitates, when all Marco thinks about is you; you waiting for him to come home. For once Marco hopes Ace's tenacious nature will not betray him because he was there; he witnessed his promise to you. "I will return to you [y/n], no matter what, I promise." Did those words mean nothing to him now as he is lured by the words of the enemy, insults that are obviously made so there is reason to attack? The sight of him makes fury evident in his figure. "Ace!!" And the man hears his name called but he doesn't budge. "So, your promise to her means nothing?" Ace feels his mind waver and his grip tighten against the etches of his hands, as though winded by his words. "What about [y/n]?! She's waiting for you!"

Ace stays entrenched and motionless, but in his mind, he remembers you.

"Ace!" You had smiled up at him, enveloping him instantly in a warm embrace that he had missed more than you could ever know. He remembers how he lifted you from the ground so easily and spun you within your hold, lost in burning love and ecstasy. He hears your gleeful laugh and returns it with a muffled chuckle as he lets you down and breathes you in. He missed you. You weren't a pirate, but you were an owner of a restaurant on an island that the Whitebeard pirates visited regularly. It was their favourite spot and they knew you well. You grinned as you saw the crew saunter in from behind him laughing and patting Ace on the back teasingly at the sight of him so lost in his adoration of you. Marco grinned as he looked at you and gave you a quick hug in greeting before smirking at the sight of Ace's burning eyes. "This guy couldn't stop talking about you. Thought we'd have to come back sooner 'cause it looked like he was about to start swimming to you-yoi." You let out a laugh as Ace starts yelling at him incoherently when he lets his words slip. But the crew laughs along with you; it wasn't too far from reality.

They had never seen Ace sulk so much, or light up as much as the times he spoke your name wistfully to the sky. "I wonder what [y/n]'s doing today." Your name was uttered when they arrived on islands, passing through stalls as they stocked up for the journeys ahead. "I bet [y/n] would like this." Your name was heard in the depths of drunken evenings as Ace woke up from a fit of sleep mumbling loudly. "[y-y/n], where is she?" They even heard your name spoken in the most dire circumstances amid threats of powerful enemies. "There's no way I'll lose, I promised [y/n] I'd return; no exceptions." And it was true. Before he left he would leave you with a lingering kiss and an oath with devotion etched in his eyes. "I will return to you [y/n], no matter what, I promise." This time was no different, but for you who kept a secret, everything was about to change. As the crew settled into your restaurant and were served beer and as much food as they could devour, you had pulled Ace beyond your kitchen to a more quiet space. Ace had looked confused at your abrupt hope to get him alone but he did not complain; he would follow you anywhere.

When you looked up to him in silence he saw nervousness rage in your eyes and your fidgeting hands as they pulled against your skin. It made him perplexed, and concerned. Why did you look like you were going to be sick? Why did you look so nervous; it was just him. He cupped your face gently as you breathed in steadily readying the sentence that would transform your lives. He had looked down at you, words muttered in his confusion. "[y/n], what's wrong?" You returned his gaze with a shaky smile as you tried to ignore the raging thoughts of doubt in the back of your mind; You were pregnant. You had learnt of it two months ago, just after the crew had left. You were glad their journey had been brief as they returned to you so much sooner than they usually would, but now you were scared; terrified. You knew of Ace's past and his experience with fatherhood as a child. But you also knew you owed him the truth; he deserved it. So, you spoke shakily as you returned his willful gaze. "I have something to tell you, something important." Ace's mind whirls as you look at him so unusually serious and it makes him almost fear the worst; were you leaving him?

But he nods slowly at your hesitance though his touch falters on your skin. "You can tell me anything [y/n], you know that." You nodded to him slowly, an anxious grimace dancing on the corners of your face. "Please don't be mad." Ace feels his heart thrum faster at that as he tries and fails to control the emotions that threaten him. Please; you wouldn't leave him now, right? He loved you too much to let you go. But your next words are so contradictory to his thoughts they made him stand still and frozen in shock. "Ace, I'm pregnant." For a moment everything in his world comes to a halt and he swears he stops breathing. You witness the blankness of his stare as his mind tries and fails to process your words. Your heart is pounding and your eyebrows are furrowed in worry as you look at him, taking his reaction for the worst. But unbeknownst to you Ace is lost between the inklings of fear but also utter joy. "Ace, I- I'm sorry but-" He interrupts you as his eyes look to you with sudden fierceness you almost take a step back. "I- I'm going to be a father?" He turns to you then, hands firm but gentle around your shoulders as you look at his resolve in shock. "I-I am the father right?" You feel it then, the bubbling laughter that you let free at his tentative words. You roll your eyes. "Of course, you're the father; who else would there be?"

It is all the reassurance he needs.

Ace has you bundled in his warm embrace, tears of joy seeping from his eyes as you let your own happiness fall to your face. You hear his laughter grow and see the utter bliss that envelops him. "You're happy?" You ask hopefully looking at his reaction as though it wasn't enough. Ace nods as he breathes out in disbelief looking at you like you are an angel on Earth. The ecstasy stills into lingering comfort as he grips your hand in his tightly. "I won’t lie, I’m scared… but the two of you are all I need; I’m with you every step of the way." You could almost cry at his sentimental words free of teasing and his usual lightheartedness. You grin so brightly and Ace's heart is full. He pulls you into a passionate kiss, one that can almost convey the depth of feeling you gifted within him. “I’m going to be a father…” That evening was one of pure contentment. The crew yell out in their joy for their crewmate and for you. There is a call for a feast and even Whitebeard laughs out deep and fulfilled; he had always wanted a daughter and grandchildren. The whole night Ace doesn't let go of you in his hold. Kisses planted on your face, hands that caress soft skin, the smile that doesn't leave his face.

It all passes so soon; the days leave too quickly.

The goodbye comes.

You wave to the crew as they board the ship that takes them far across the seas; takes him far away from you. Ace had looked down at you as the waves signalled his departure from your warm embrace. Ace wants desperately to stay by your side, to stay with you forever. Being apart from you was torture but now he thinks it might end him, but you know him better than he knows himself; he will be with you for eternity after he fulfils his dreams upon the sea. "Come home to me." You mutter as he faces you just inches away. He pulls you in for a fervrous kiss and his warmth is all that you know; it is all that holds you together. His hands cradle your waist before he finally parts looking at you with such devotion there can be no doubt of it. "I will return to you [y/n], no matter what, I promise..." He then traces your form gently before planting a kiss on the top of your head. "I'll return to you both." He is then gone beyond the horizon but he watches you until you are too far for the eye to see. Marco watches his eyes turn solemn when they turn away from the direction of you.

It had been many months since then, and Ace missed you so much his heart ached just by the mention of your name. He had meant to come to you so much sooner; now so much time had passed he is almost terrified to see you again. You would surely be angry he had not been there; he had not been there for you. He thinks of the child you bear, how you would've looked swollen, the burdens you would have had to face alone. All because he couldn't let Blackbeard go; he had to hold him accountable for Thatch's death. In the midst of it, he had forgotten the promise he had vowed to keep. He had gotten himself captured and torn from any way to return to you. His pride had become his undoing as he ignored his friends, Whitebeard and everyone around him because he couldn't see reason. Was he so willing to risk leaving his child without a father now, when he knew what it was like to be left wondering and alone? How it was like to have a father not present but lingering; to be told stories of the man that should've been beside him growing up, protecting his mother and protecting himself.

It hurts.

It hurts to be torn between his nature to stay and fight, but it hurts more to know the pain and suffering he may bestow on you; the worry he knows you already bear. He knows you know; news of his capture has spread worldwide. So, in the silence and his stillness, there is finally movement. He moves; one foot forward. Then the other... then the other... Akainu watches eyes widening slightly and betraying surprise. But Ace grasps Luffy's arm tightly urging him forward too. "A-Ace?" The Whitebeard Crew all stare completely in shock, completely wide-eyed and gaping as Ace, their stubborn comrade walks away from a battle; Ace, walking away from an enemy he faced. Tears pour heavily over his cheeks as sharp words leave his mouth at the sight of his crew silent and now still. "What are you doing?! Move! For pops!" They shake themselves of their surprise and run with Ace, they run with Luffy, away from Akainu's burning rage as he witnesses it. They leave the sight of their beloved Captain and father left to deal with the blows as he protects his crew one last time. As they barge themselves to the safety of the open seas, Ace finally realises the depths of the decision he has made. There is no regret but there is also no retribution, but he would seek that out later. As the sight of Marineford disappears within smoke and debris, he lets out a mutter so low not even Luffy heard it from beside him.

"I'm sorry pops."

.....

The room is silent where you sit and you cradle your child against your chest to ease the pain in your heart. You have waited so long; so many months. You have had the unbearable pain of losing your beloved to the clutches of marines; to the clutches of his execution. There was silence in the news that travelled, no one on your island knew of what had happened, but you felt the worst had come true; that you had lost your darling Ace. You are so lost in thoughts of grief you do not hear it at first, but then you do, instincts flaring at the sound of your door opening. As you look up you are frozen in your shock, but he is too.

It's him; it's Ace.

You sit still in the quiet that encapsulates you as you feel the beginning of tears fall from your lash line. Your hands tremble but you are speechless. He moves forward to you, freckled face brimming with heartache, as Marco smiles grimly from your doorway as though in silent confirmation; he is actually here, alive. You stand quickly, your child still in your arms. He moves to you like his life depends on it and you are within his warm embrace as sobs rake your body in relief. "You're home." You're voice is shaking and soft but it is all you need to say. He looks into your eyes and in utter fondness turns to his child in your arms. "I'm home."

[straws-and-sunflowers]

Everyone look at pookie.😊

[cinnamoonblue]

I forgot something

ONE SHOT - Portgas D Ace/Reader (female)

DESCRIPTION: OP Verse | Friends to lovers - fluff, slight angst

SUMMARY: It's your birthday and something or rather say - someone is missing.

WARNINGS: english is not my first language, explicit language, mentions of alcohol, mentions of Thatch's death, mentions of pet names (princess)

WORD COUNT: 3,8K

✰ MASTERLIST ✰

NOTE: this is a special one for my girl @neospade as today is her birthday and as she has turned into my internet bestie I had to make sure to properly wish her a nice birthday ♡ I hope you enjoy this short piece on your day and have an amazing upcoming year ♡ I know that you are a sucker for angst so there is a little bit, but overall I really, really hope you like this one as I tried to include all your favorite tropes and character in this one - so I hope that you will enjoy my little present for you ♡ ily ♡

The sunlight is creeping through the window which means it’s time for you to wake up. Today is quite a special day for you as it’s your birthday. Usually, you are very excited when it comes to it, but this year is a little bit different. It isn’t about the age you are turning to, it is more about the upcoming celebration. You know that every single person from the crew is excited about tonight’s celebration as, since you were a child, your birthday has been treated as a holiday on the Moby Dick, after all your father was none other than the Whitebeard himself.

Sitting up in your bed a sigh leaves your lips. You have been feeling very down lately since a certain someone has left the ship to pursue revenge. It has been two months since Thatch was killed by Blackbeard and Ace has gone on his journey to avenge his comrade’s death. Not only you have to celebrate your birthday without one of the closest people you had while growing up, but on top of it, you have to spend the day without the person your heart desires the most.

Portgas D Ace – the second division commander of the Whitebeard’s pirates, has stolen your heart the moment he had stepped his foot on your father’s ship. Even when he was trying to kill your father you couldn’t help but feel your heart skip a beat every time you saw him. You never worried about his attempts towards your old man as you were sure that one day they would stop, and the hot-tempered boy would eventually cool off. While his attempts were still ongoing, you made sure to tend his wounds and clean his bloody nose every time, not only as an excuse to get closer to him, but also to get to understand why he was trying so hard to harm your father. Of course, he wasn’t very found of you in the beginning and refused your help, but slowly with time he started to cool off and open up more and more to the crew and you.

“Why…” His voice was low and groggy from his hundredth killing attempt towards your dad. You have come to leave him a bowl with warm stew in it, as you have noticed that most of the time out of pride he would refuse to eat with the rest of the crew or eat in general. “Why do you people call him ‘Pops’?” He was sitting on the deck with knees pulled towards his body and elbows resting on them, his head was hanging low as he had failed again, and he was getting tired of it.

You felt bad for him. It was obvious that the guy who was the same age as you had been faced with many demons inside his mind and it pained you, because if you put aside his want to fight your father so badly, he was clearly a good person.

“Because he calls them all ‘sons’ or ‘daughters’ and every one of them was hated in one way or another by the world.”  You offered him a gentle smile as he looked up to meet your eyes. “I guess, this brings people joy. It’s a simple word – but it does make them happy.”

“What about you?” The question he asked you took you by surprise which made you giggle. Didn’t he know?

“I have no choice but to call him that.” You said in between giggles as the boy in front of you had confusion written all over his face. “I am his biological daughter, Ace.”

His eyes widen when he heard the words leaving your lips. There was no way that something this beautiful and tender could be this man’s daughter.

You offered him another smile and walked closer to him, squatting down, you looked him in the eyes, this time with a serious look over your face. You knew that this must end once and for all, and the boy sitting in front of you was the one who should make up his mind.

“Ace.” You started and hoped that he would listen. “You got to make up your mind, because this can’t continue.” He looked away from you, avoiding your gaze as he didn’t want to admit that you were right. “You can’t kill him, no matter how much you try and even if you do, what do you gain by doing so?”

You didn’t get any answer to this question, but since that night Ace has changed. He has agreed to be part of the crew and not long after that your father has made him his second division commander.   

The more time has passed, the more you two have grown closer, which leads you to right now. You have no idea where he is, how he is or with who he is. Every day you check the newspaper with fear, but you try to tell yourself that no news should be good news. If he is in danger or something has happened to him, it would be known. You two have grown to be extremely close friends to a point where you would always get teased, especially by Marco and Thatch that you two are meant to be more than friends, but you have always ignored them. While Ace was quite oblivious to the fact that you have feelings for him, the rest of the crew isn’t. On top of that, your father has moved you to the second division, which was a surprise for you because since you could remember you were always under Marco’s command, but you chose not to question your father’s choices. Being in the second division only brought you even closer to Ace, and the more you got to know him, the harder you were falling for him, but again no matter what anyone was telling you, you couldn’t bring yourself to confess your feelings for him, afraid of being rejected and making things awkward between you two.

You get up from bed and get ready for the day. Taking a step out of your private cabin you make your way to the deck. Passing by every crew member on the ship you are being greeted with congratulations for your birthday. Getting on the deck you see your father’s big figure sitting on his usual spot with Marco by his side. The moment your father sees you a big smile is placed on his face as he opens his arms, inviting you for a hug.

“Happy Birthday to my dearest child.” His voice echoes around and everyone cheers. Pulling away from his embrace you smiled at him.

“Thank you, dad.” Before you know it another pair of arms wraps around you in a suffocating hug and lifts you a bit from the deck’s floor.

“Happy Birthday little rascal.” Marco’s voice rings in your ears. “Are you excited for tonight?”

“Sure, I am.” You half shrug with your shoulders and chuckle a bit.

“You don’t seem to be.” Izo, who appeared from behind Marco, points out. “Happy Birthday beautiful.” He says and gives you a hug as well. 

“Thank you Izo, and yes, I’m excited for tonight. Don’t worry.” You try to brush it off before the teasing starts but it is too late.

“Oh, I’m sure if certain someone was here you would be more excited-yoi.” Marco chuckles and nudges Izo with his elbow. All you do is roll your eyes and ignore him as you don’t have the energy for this right now.

“Any news from him?” You turn to your father, but he just shakes his head and you nod understandingly. “Well, no news is better than bad news.” You whisper to yourself and turn around to walk away from the guys, going on with your chores for the day.

You can’t help but wonder what the man with raven black hair, who happened to steal your heart, is doing. Does he even remember that today is your birthday? He is super forgetful when it comes to things like this, but he did remember it last year, and this let you think to your birthday then – he tricked you into believing that he had forgotten it, only to surprise you later during the night with a trip to a nearby island where you two observed the night sky filled with start all night. Then just before you two got back to the ship he gifted you a red bean bracelet which matched the necklace he wore all the time and since then you haven’t taken it off.

Gestures and moments like that one made you fall in love with him more and more, but the courage to confess or even question if he feels the same way never comes. You know how hard it is for him to understand feelings and emotions in a first place, so you are sure that all he sees in you is a very good friend. Still, all the days and nights spent talking to each other, you or him falling asleep in the others cabin, led to your heart belonging to him and him only.

When he left without a second thought to revenge Thatch’s death without even saying goodbye to you or asking you to go with him left a bitter taste in you. You wanted to go after him, but everyone stopped you from doing so, instead until he comes back you are in charge of the second division, after all your skills in combat and fight strategies are exceptional, so no one in the crew mind you taking over them and it is only until Ace comes back.

The day goes by slowly, but before you know it everyone gathers on the deck and starts celebrating for you and your special day. You are trying to enjoy the night as much as you can, but nothing feels good enough. Your father, Marco, Izo and everyone else are throwing toast after toast in your honor, but you can’t even finish your first drink while everyone else is at least on their fifth or sixth. You are sitting with some of the nurses when your father calls you out to go to him. Excusing yourself you get up and go to your father, wondering what he wants from you now. As much as you love your old man, sometimes he is pain in the ass, and you just hope that tonight he won’t give you one of his life lectures. Taking a seat next to him you give him a questioning look.

“Since when you don’t enjoy celebrating your birthday?” That is all he asks you while taking a glance at you.

“I’m just growing old, I guess.” You shrug, obviously not in the mood for anything and almost done pretending that you are in the mood for any celebration. And this isn’t only for your birthday, you have been like this since Ace left, but today all the feelings you have bottled up feel a little bit heavier than any other day.

“It is because the stubborn brat is not here, isn’t it?” Your dad chuckles with bitterness in his voice. He does miss Ace, too. This is how much of an effect Ace has on people – just like the sun he is attracting everything and everyone towards him. His charisma is so big that there isn’t a possible way in which someone will meet him and not fall in love with him at once. He knows how to charm his way into people’s hearts, especially yours.

“Don’t act like you don’t miss him yourself.” You look over your shoulder at your father and his laughter fills up the air.

“I do miss him. The ship is too quiet without him, there is no one wreaking chaos around.” He says in between laughs. Both of you stay silent for a minute observing the party around you. A deep sigh escapes your lips as you decide to call it a night. You aren’t in the mood, so it is pointless to stay up any longer.

“I’m calling it a night, dad. Don’t drink too much.” You get up and place a kiss on your father’s cheek, wishing him good night. His laughter fills up the air once again as he wishes you good night and tells you not to worry about him.

Making your way to your cabin you stopped a few times as some crew members stopped you for a little chitchat, but it doesn’t take you long to finally reach it. Taking a step in and closing the door behind you, you noticed the big window in it is being open.

“That is strange.” You tell yourself as you remember clearly that you have closed it last time you were in your cabin or maybe you remember wrong. Walking to it you close it and the second it makes the clicking noise that indicates it is being closed, a pair of arms wrap around you with one hand on your middle and the other on your mouth stopping you from screaming.

“Sh, sh, it’s me.” You don’t need to be told twice as you immediately recognise the voice. You relax in the arms that are now strongly wrapping you in a hug. “Happy Birthday, princess.” He whispers in your ear. You waste no more time and turn around to face him. You can’t believe your eyes, after two months you are face to face with the deep dark eyes you have fallen in love with so deeply. This can’t be real, you must be dreaming.

“Ace.” You can feel tears treating to fall from your eyes. “You… you remember.”

“How can I forget.” He chuckles as he pulls you even closer to him. It hits you just now how close the two of you are and how intimate this feels.

“Does anyone else know that you are here?”

“No, only you, and I intended to keep it that way.” He lets go of your body and instead takes your hands in his. “I’m very close to catching Teach and I’m not turning my back to what he did, but I couldn’t help not being part of your special day today.” He said while giving you one of his many charming smiles.

“Please, drop it.” You know that this won’t stop him from going after Blackbeard, but you have to try. “Just come back I beg yo-…”

“Hey, hey I’m here to celebrate you, not argue with you.” He lets a little laughter escape his lips in an attempt to brush off the topic.

“We are all worried sick about you Ace.”

“I’m fine as you can see.” He replies with a little eye roll. “Now birthday girl, how was your day?” He guides you to your bed as you both sit on it. You still can’t process the fact that he is here.

“It was okay.” You shrug. “How did you get on board without getting caught?” It just occurs in your mind that if only you are aware of the fact that he is here right now, this means that he getting on board has been unnoticed by whoever is in charge of the night watch tonight.

“I have my ways.” He winks at you with a little smirk playing on his face.

You two laid down and talked for hours. He told you about how he met his infamous little brother again and that now he has a crew on his own. He told you about all the troubles he had gotten into while searching for Teach, but you weren’t surprised, after all Ace so reckless at times, yet it was so fun listening to his stories while your eyes traced every freckle on his face. You have missed his face so much. You have missed him so much.

Before you know it, the sun is back on the horizon, which means that soon he will be gone. You know that you can’t do anything to change his mind regardless avenging Thatch, but you can’t bare the thought of not seeing him for who knows how long.

“Why did you come here Ace?” The question slips past your lips before you can stop it. “I mean… why did you come back today of all days?” You know how much he values his friends and family, but still… he only showed up for your birthday.

His cheeks get heated. Ace has come all the way here with one thing in mind but now with you in front of him, all his confidence has left the room, and he is not sure what to do or say next.

“It’s… it’s because… I-I know how important this day is for you.” He chuckles awkwardly.

“You are important to me as well.” You tell him not caring about how this will come out.

“And so are you to me.” He swallows hard before raising and sitting up in your bed, you follow him and wait for him to continue. Taking his orange hat off, Ace runs his fingers through his hair, pulling it a bit.

“Ace… are you okay?” You quietly asked.

“Yes, of course, I am.” He tries to brush you off, but you can easily see how tense his muscles are and also noticing that he is… nervous. You have never seen him nervous, what is he nervous for?

“I don’t believe you.” You gently place your hand in his and give it a little squeeze. “You know you can tell me anything. Is it something to do with Teach?” Saying out loud this name you immediately feel the anger building up in him.

“No, this has nothing to do with him.” He grinds his teeth as his jaw clenches, just hearing his subordinate name, who has betrayed your father and all of the crew in the worst way possible, makes his blood boils.

“Then what is it Ace?” Raising one of your brows, you are waiting patiently for him to give you an answer.

“I’m not the best with words and you know this.” He turns his body a bit towards you so he can face you better. “And I know that this might…” He sighs as he is struggling to find the right words. “This might complicate things between us… but… I’m… I-” His cheeks bloom with blush all over them as he looks away for a second before he curses under his breath. “Fuck this.” He says as he cups your face and pulls you closer to him. His lips, soft and plump, captures yours in a sweet full of desire kiss. It takes you less than a second to return it.

You have dreamed of this kiss for so long, maybe since the first week he came on board. His lips, his kiss, is even better than you have imagined – so gentle, yet full of passion. You both pull away at the same time to catch your breath as his hands gently caress your face. Leaning closer to him, your foreheads touch as you share a little eskimo kiss with a little laughter escaping from both of you.

“I missed you, Ace… I missed you so much.” You whisper.

“I missed you more.” He whispers back as he captures your lips once more in a sweet gentle kiss. “I… I have never felt that way before as I feel for you, and I had to make sure that you know it… just in case.”

“Please, don’t go.” You beg. “Or at least let me come with you that way you won’t have to be alone, and we can be together.” You place your hands on his face, cupping it as you kiss him, hoping that this will change his mind.

“I can’t princess.” He pulls away from you and exhales as it pains him – he doesn’t want to leave you, not now when he knows that the love is mutual, but he can’t risk losing you. Looking over his shoulder the morning twilight is set on the horizon, u means it is time for him to go before someone from the crew notice the Striker anchored next to the Moby Dick. “But I will be back here soon, very soon and then we can be together without any worries.” He wipes away the tear that falls down from the corner of your eye. “Don’t cry, I promise you – I will be back before you know it.” He pulls you closer for a hug as he wraps his strong arms around your form and places a kiss on your forehead. “In the meantime, you take good care of the second division, I’m sure you are doing even better job than me.” A soft boyish laughter escapes his lips as he kisses your forehead once more. “Again, I’m bad with words, but you mean everything to me. Never forget that.” He lifts your chin and kisses you one more time before he gets from the bed.

You are still sitting on it, knowing that all you have to do is wait – wait for him to come back to you, so you finally will be able to be together as you have always wanted.

Ace is about to sneak out from your cabin’s window when he turns around and calls out your name.

“I forgot something.” He says as he pulls out a little piece of paper. You get from the bed and stand next to the window where Ace is. He hands you a vivre card. “I forgot to give it to you last time, but now that you have this, no matter what or where I am, you will now know that I’m alright and that soon I will be back to you.” His hand reaches once again for your face and cares it so gently as if you are made of glass. With one last look he turns around and jumps over your window, but you grab his hand as he is about to run away.

“I love you, Ace.” You say as both of you are staring into each other’s eyes. “Please, come back to me soon.” With a heavy sigh you let go of his hand and look down at the vivre card he has given you, placing it to your heart with your hands on it.

“I will.” He says with a smile tilting his hat before running away and jumping out of the ship.

You hear the rumbling of the Striker and with that he is gone. But he will be back soon – after all he has promised you and Ace always keep his promises, and now that you have his vivre card you will never need to worry about any newspapers or so as, as long as it it pointing towards his direction you can and will always find your way to him and know that he is well and unharmed. Loving a man like Ace is a challenge, but you are willing to take this challenge any day because Ace is Ace, and you would never asked for anyone else but him.

writing, format, header & dividers © cinnamoonblue ©cinnamoonblue, do not copy or plagiarise my work.

[mallomars]

One piece

[swift-works]

Enchanted ✧.* Part Two

part one | masterlist

word count: 2k

summary: After inheriting your grandmother's house, you find a seemingly normal mirror in the attic. When night falls however, the mirror becomes a portal into your favorite fictional world and who better to greet you than your favorite character. Can you change his fate or see him to his doom?  

tags: isekai!reader, sfw, swearing

a/n: and here is part 2! thank you for all the love on part 1 <3 i hadn't planned on making this weekly but i may have to keep it like that due to life events

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Ace went into a panic as soon as you dropped. He couldn’t do anything but call out to you in hopes that you would wake up. About a minute passed before he saw your eyes begin to flicker open. A sigh of relief passed through him. No one has ever fainted at the mere mention of his name before. “Are you okay? You didn’t hit your head too hard, right?”

You slowly regained your bearings. The figure in the mirror hadn’t disappeared so this was definitely not a dream. He was still shrouded in the dim light, his fire must have gone out when you went down. “I’m okay? At least physically I am. Mentally? Well the jury is still out on that one.” You finally sat up, deciding to stay on the floor instead of standing.

This was real. A fictional character from a fictional story was in your mirror. The more times you said it, the crazier it seemed. It was crazy but it was real. You could make out his figure- Ace’s figure looking around his side of the mirror. He grumbled under his breath when he couldn’t find what he was looking for. “Okay, I’m gonna move it so hopefully you can see me better.” Without waiting for you to answer, he easily lifted the mirror and moved it to a better lit spot.

Finally you were able to see him in his full glory. Everything was accurate from his boots to the hat that covered his head. He looked good. You tried to act as if you weren’t looking at his chest for longer than you needed to. There was a faint smirk on his lips that told you that he knew. Your cheeks grew warm. “So you’re Ace? Like Fire Fist Ace?” 

“Yup! Proud second division commander of the Whitebeard pirates, at your service.” He took his hat off and held it to his chest as he bowed.

A thought occurred to you. Where in the timeline was this Ace? He must have been on the Moby Dick so this must have been before Thatch’s death. Could you- No. It was never a good idea to mess with timelines or whatever was happening here. What if you changed everything for the worse? What if you couldn’t change anything?

“So uh,  you wouldn’t happen to know exactly how we’re talking through a mirror would you? Cause I’ve heard of inanimate objects getting devil fruit powers but I still can’t wrap my head around it.” He began to ramble while plopping his hat back on his head.

“Yeah let’s go with that. I was just gonna call it a magic mirror.” You decided that you weren’t exactly going to tell him that you were from a different world yet. The world of One Piece was definitely big enough that you could make something up. A sudden thought occurred to you. “Oh and it only works at night! During the day, I just have a regular mirror.” The white thing you saw in the mirror originally must have been a sheet or something. Not unlike how you found your mirror.

His face fell upon realizing it was night time. That's the moment his stomach let out a loud grumble. So caught up in this magic mirror business he had forgotten that he missed dinner and had a task at hand. “Shit, I forgot I didn't eat dinner.” he groaned. On one hand he really wanted food but he really wanted to keep talking to you. This was new and exciting for him and had greatly piqued his interest. 

“Well, If you want to go find something to eat. I- I guess that we could continue talking tomorrow?” You offered, knowing better than to keep that man from food.

He beamed at you and rapidly nodded. “That’d be great! I’ll meet you here again tomorrow. Same time?”

You agreed with him and you both said your goodbyes. With a wave of his hand he darted off. He was gone for two seconds before he came back to grab a piece of paper and hurried off again. You still couldn't comprehend that you had just met your favorite character but you were slowly coming to terms with it. The image in the mirror didn’t change so you threw a blanket over it, just in case. You went to bed thinking about the next night, feeling excitement for the first time in awhile.

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For the next week, you and Ace talked every night. He had moved the mirror into his room for easier access and less questions from his crew. At dinner, he’d scarf down his food at an all-time high speed just so he could see you- talk to you quicker. Everyone on board could tell something was different with Ace, but they were content with letting him be for now. Well, almost everyone, except Thatch who was the nosiest person ever. Everytime Ace locked eyes with the cook, he was met with a suspicious squint. He tried to wave him off but Thatch was not easily deterred. 

“So, Ace, what’s gotten into you this week? You’ve been taking naps all day- and don’t deny it! You snore! And you seem to perk up anytime the sun goes down along with shoveling food down your throat. My food deserves to be appreciated, you brat.” Thatch had blocked Ace from leaving the mess hall, waiting with his arms spread out.

Oh so people had noticed his behavior. This wasn’t embarrassing at all. “Is a man not allowed to take naps anymore? You’re getting strict in your old age, Thatch.” Ace teased him while ducking under him to get out.

“You little shit! I will find out what’s going on with you!”

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During your talks, you had told Ace that you were from a boring island in Paradise. He never questioned you and nodded along to every detail you could come up with. In return, Ace told you that he came from the East Blue and was raised by mountain bandits. Nothing you didn’t already know. There was a fond smile etched upon his face as he recalled his time on Dawn Island. 

As soon as he would mention Luffy though, you swear you could see a shine in his eyes. You just didn’t know if he was going to start crying, ramble on about his little brother or both. So that’s how most of the nights went. You’d both swap stories, although yours were laced with white lies and exaggerations. Obviously he wouldn’t tell you everything. After all, it has only been a little over a week since that first night you two met. It was nice though, having someone to talk to. None of your friends had reached out since the funeral, not that you were expecting them to. They had always held you at arms length. Ace made you feel less alone.

You still didn’t know when he was in the timeline until a few days later.

You had made a comfortable sitting spot in front of the mirror, ready for a long night's worth of conversation. Yeah it might not have been good for you, skipping hours of sleep just to talk to Ace, but you felt like it was worth it. Not everyone got the chance to talk to their favorite character through a magic mirror. You were wrapped up blankets and feeling nice and cozy when Ace burst into his room.

He called out your name with a large grin and plopped down in front of his side of the mirror. “It’s almost time for Luffy to set sail! His birthday’s right around the corner! I wonder how much he’s gotten stronger, not stronger than me though.” He smirked and lifted his arm in a flex.

Oh so this was right before the main story started. You were going to have to decide soon whether or not you’d warn him of the dangers that lie ahead. It was best to push those thoughts to the back of your mind for now. You’d decide when the time was right.

You scoffed. “Uh huh, I bet he could take you. I hear that he's the determined type.”

He jutted his bottom lip out. The fearsome Fire Fist Ace was pouting. “You’re supposed to be on my side. You don’t even know Luffy,” Actually you knew the future king of the pirates pretty well. You’ve watched at least five hundred episodes of Luffy’s journey so far. “But you are right, he is the most determined person I know. I can’t wait to see what kind of pirate he’ll become.” His pout morphed into a smile.

Those words made your heart lurch. Ace only got to see Luffy twice before he died. It was a sinking feeling to know that the man in front of you was doomed by the narrative. He wasn’t just a character now, he was just Ace. Could you really just sit here and not change anything? Maybe…

“I didn’t know you were such a softie, Ace.” You teased, masking the somber thoughts that were going through your head. 

Any other teasing remarks were silenced when a pillow was launched at your head. What the fuck? You held onto the pillow after it fell from your face into your lap. Ace’s pillow? Speaking of Ace, his face mirrored yours in shock. Nothing had ever passed through the mirror before.

“Did that-”

“How-”

You looked down at the pillow and decided to test if it worked both ways. Launching the pillow back to its owner, you stifled a laugh as it struck him in the face. Karma. His look of disbelief shifted into a look of mischief. “Oh it’s so on.”

A game of dodging projectiles broke out. Anything that was in reach went flying back and forth. You both were caught in fits of laughter and smiles. Until Ace dropped to the floor without warning. Shit. “Ace?! That’s not funny.” You were met with silence.

You made your way in front of the mirror and hesitantly reached out a hand. Could people pass through? There was only one way to find out so you pushed your hand through the mirror. Or was it more of a portal?  Your hand passed through effortlessly. Oh shit. This was so cool. You snapped your focus back to Ace. Oh right. With a deep breath, you jumped from your room to the Moby Dick.

Unfortunately, you didn't have time to really let that settle. You rushed to Ace and hovered over him. Oh my god, he was so real. Not that you had doubts, but now you could touch him. He was also dead to the world as a loud snore erupted from him. Wait, wasn’t he narcoleptic? You let out a sigh of relief. At least, he didn't literally drop dead.

Kneeling beside him, you shook him. “Ace, wake up!” He did no such thing and continued to reside in dreamland. You huffed and decided to look around his room. Since you two have been having nightly chats, he's kept it clean. A certain green bag caught your eye. Hopefully he wouldn't mind you snooping. You lifted his head and slid one of the pillows under him. Your curiosity had you ruffling through the bag and bringing out a few coins. Your eyes practically shined. Real berries.

While you were snooping, you failed to hear the soft knocks that came from the door. As soon as you had pulled out the berries, the door swung open and Marco the Phoenix stepped through the threshold. “Just wanted to remind you of the commanders meeting tomorrow-”

He froze as he took in your figure with Ace’s bag and berry in hand. His eyes flickered to the sleeping figure on the ground. Well this didn’t look good. You felt as if you were under the gaze of a predator as his eyes narrowed at you. 

You dropped the bag and stepped away from it. “I swear this is not what it looks like, I can explain.”

“Oh you’re gonna explain alright, yoi. To Whitebeard himself.” 

Oh fuck.

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last chapter | next chapter

[chibinasuu]

Ace x Reader ― confession; stargazing

part of the cozy holidays event

🎁 ― @daydreamer-in-training tags: sfw, fluff, GN!Reader, no use of y/n, friends to lovers, jealous!ace

Fire Fist Ace took off his hat, looked up at the night sky, and sighed. 

The sound of raucous laughter, glasses clinking, and the jolly music that flowed from the Whitebeard Pirates’ infamous New Year’s Eve party seemed so distant from his perch on the crow’s nest of the Moby Dick. 

The Second Division Commander pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, trying – and failing – to erase the image of the First Division Commander’s arm slung around your shoulders as he refilled your drink, deeply engrossed in a playful debate with you about the medicinal properties of the plants you discovered on the last island. 

Ace had finally had enough and snuck away to the top of the mast when he saw Marco whisper something into your ear that made you burst into a fit of giggles.

He let out another sigh as he tried to suppress the burning ache in his heart. 

“Hey! What are you doing up here?”

Ace jumped at the sound of your familiar voice, his heartbeat quickening – partly from surprise, but partly because lately, it always seemed to do so whenever you were around. 

You climbed into the crow’s nest and sat beside your best friend, poking his bare shoulder, “You’re missing the party!”

Ace shrugged, “Needed some fresh air.” 

You leaned your head against the mast, taking in the vast, cloudless sky above you. 

The inky blackness was scattered with a million glittering stars, flickering brightly as they kept watch over the ship. 

It was a view you see almost every night, but most of the time took for granted. 

You smiled, “The stars are beautiful tonight.” 

“Yeah…” Ace glanced sideways, taking in your serene expression, swallowing the tightness in his throat as he reluctantly returned his sight to the stars, “Beautiful.” 

“Ace, look," you gasped excitedly, "It’s the Sea King!” 

The raven-haired man looked down at the ocean in alarm, “What? Where?” 

“Not down there, dummy,” you laughed, placing your fingers underneath his chin and guiding his gaze to the sky, “Up there.”

You took his finger and directed it to point at the brightest star in the heavens, “That’s its eye.”

You moved his hand slightly to the right to the next star in the constellation, leading him down the Sea King’s spine, to its fins, and finally its tail. 

“Get it?” 

“Not really.” He scratched his ear absentmindedly, painfully aware that you were still lightly grasping his other hand, “How the hell is that a Sea King?” 

“Let’s just say the ancient sailors had very imaginative minds.” You said with a chuckle.

You didn’t realize when, but somewhere during your conversation, you and Ace had moved closer together, as if drawn by an inescapable magnetic force. You could feel the heat emanating from the Flame-Flame Fruit user at every point of contact – your shoulder, down your arm, the side of your knee. 

The two of you fell into a lull, the silence comfortable. Unconsciously, you leaned further into his side, instinctively seeking that distinct warmth only he could provide. 

You found yourself looking at him out of the corner of your eye, studying his long eyelashes, and those freckles that rivaled the stars up above. 

All of a sudden, Ace turned his head toward you.

You instantly looked away, cheeks heating up at being caught staring.

He cleared his throat, “Shouldn’t you go back down there? Isn’t Marco waiting for you?”

“Marco?” You cocked your head in confusion, “He’s already gone back to his room – didn’t even bother to wait until midnight. Said something about his age catching up to him.” 

“You guys, um, looked pretty cozy earlier.” He stammered awkwardly, “Are you two a thing now?”

“Who?” You asked incredulously, pointing an index finger at yourself, “Me and Marco?” 

Ace averted his eyes from you, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

“Ace, what are you talking about? He’s my Division Commander and a good friend of mine–” 

“Just like I’m your "good friend"?” He asked, emphasizing the words with air quotes. 

A hundred thoughts raced through your mind, but the most prominent one was: “No, it’s different when it comes to you.” 

You wanted to shout it out to get it through his thick skull, but before you could even open your mouth, Ace quickly said, “Sorry.”

He chewed his bottom lip, taking a deep breath through his nose as he contemplated his next words.

“It’s just, I don’t see you as a friend.” He shook his head frantically, “Wait, no, I do – you’re my best friend.”

He sighed defeatedly, ”And at first, that was all you were – a friend. Someone who understands me more than anyone else. Someone who goes along with my stupid pranks, but will not hesitate to tell me off if I cross a line.”

“But lately,” his words trailed off as he leaned closer and closer to you, “It’s been so hard not to…”

Blinking rapidly as if awoken from a trance, he backed away, leaning the back of his head against the mast with his eyes shut. 

Your heart raced at the way his nose had brushed yours, there for a second and then gone. 

It was getting more difficult to breathe – you could hardly believe this was not a dream – as Ace rambled on and on.

“I don’t know when or how it happened… I just know that I no longer see you as just a friend, you know? You probably don’t feel the same way,” 

“Ace.” 

“And I’m probably ruining our friendship by saying all this, but I really need to get this off my chest. I can’t–, I feel like I’m gonna burst into flames if I don’t say something. And earlier, you were down there all chummy with Marco, and I–”

“Ace!”

He finally looked into your eyes, breathless, “What?”

“Just shut up and kiss me.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. 

When his lips landed on yours, it felt like coming home – the sensation novel, but somehow familiar all the same.

All of the mutual pent-up longing and desire was poured into that first meeting of your lips, gaining intensity as first became second, then third. 

The two of you did not even register the boom of the fireworks shooting off, signaling the turn of the year with bursts of red and green, gold and silver, against the dark canvas of the night sky. 

Ace’s strong hand went to the back of your head, startlingly gentle despite his heated kisses as he pulled you in even further, like he couldn’t possibly get close enough. 

Your hand traced his warm torso – committing all the crests and ridges to memory – before traversing upwards to tenderly caress his cheek. 

As you withdrew to take a much-needed breath, Ace’s lips followed yours, unwilling to part now that he had gotten a taste. He brushed sweet, tiny pecks upon your lips, then moved his attention to your cheek. 

His kisses charted a path to your ear, where he sighed out your name softly, “I don’t want to be just friends with you anymore.” 

“Me neither,” you chuckled, “Not for a long time now.”

Ace pulled back in surprise at your admission, grabbing your face in between his hands, “Wait – a long time? Since when? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“...Touché.”

Ace laughed as he admired your glowing, fireworks-lit face, leaning in to claim your lips once more.

You put your hand on his chest, "Wait!"

Ace’s brows furrowed, his head filled with worry that you had suddenly changed your mind about this whole... relationship thing with him.

His heart lightened, however, when you merely grinned and said, "I almost forgot. Happy birthday, Ace."

This time, you were the one who leaned in.

At breakfast the next day, a hungover Izou approached a well-rested Marco with crossed arms and raised eyebrows, relaying the news that he caught sight of you and Ace sneaking down the crow’s nest, hand-in-hand, at an ungodly hour that morning.

“What did you do?” 

Marco smirked and shrugged nonchalantly, raising his coffee mug to salute his fellow Division Commander, “I just showed the boy what he’d miss if he waited too long-yoi.”

a/n: happy new year everyone!! here's to an amazing year to come 🥂 (also, happy birthday ace <3)

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taglist: @splicer13vex

[no1onepiecefan]

i know that zoro looks at marco and feels indescribable.

because isn’t he just zoro’s worst nightmare, his worst case scenario, all his fears personified? the second in command, the right hand man, reduced to a living memory after his crew was killed repeatedly in front of his eyes. then in retaliation to his captain being mercilessly slaughtered, he waged a war on the murderer and he lost terribly. marco walked out of the payback war with less family than he walked in with and their fight of revenge became a scramble of retreat. marco who lost izou in wano as if the world would not allow him a second of respite from grief. marco who in present time has to sit with the knowledge that the scattered, remaining remnants and allies of the whitebeard pirates are being hunted for sport, and he can’t do anything about it. marco who never stops losing what he loves even when it's doubted that he could lose any more.

i know that zoro looks at marco and feels fear, genuine terror, at that fate. the strawhats are zoro’s world, his love for them is boundless. his love for his captain? nothing could hope to compare. zoro losing any one of his crew mates would irreversibly destroy him, and he looks at a man who has lost it all. thatch, oden, little oars jr, ace, whitebeard, izou; well: sanji, brook, franky, usopp, nami, luffy. does he feel pity? does he feel kindred? what does zoro think when he sees marco?

marco is so powerful; the whitebeard pirates were untouchable pinnacles of the pirate world. marco was the righthand man of the strongest man in the world for (over) thirty years, a man who stood shoulder to shoulder with gold roger himself. does zoro train harder knowing that or does it momentarily cause him to falter in worry about the futility of strength? marco the phoenix, first division commander of the whitebeard pirates, lives alone on a secluded island with the company of villagers and graves. he spent thirty years aboard the moby dick and it came crumbling in months. zoro must look at that, and think about how his world could slip through his fingers if he lowers his guard from threat for a moment. worry must claw at his throat as he struggles to find what to say; staring at the embodiment of strength, intelligence and kindness and who's fate is a quiet life he never asked for.

i know that zoro looks at marco and feels indescribable