Yume:Wrote this on a whim not sure if I have this just be a one shot or if i'll continue it or not well enjoy!
Speeding across the waters of the East Blue in his yellow striker Ace hums jadedly. Having come all the way out to the East Blue to visit his little brother Luffy; only to find he already set out to sea to become the king of the pirates disappointed and excited the fire user. So now here Ace was heading back to the Grand Line at a leisured pace enjoying the blissful peace while he still could. The wind ruffles Ace's hair threatening to blow away his orange hat. Pulling his striker to a halt Ace places his right hand on his trademark hat and surveys the area.
"Man I'm hungry now if I remember correctly there's a town with a military base around here somewhere," Ace mutters to himself face brightening as he sees a black blob on the horizon.
"Aha," Ace cries gleefully and heads to the town at full speed for a meal and maybe marine provided entertainment. Watching the blob quickly form into a land mass Ace smirks merrily at the huge marine base in the center of Shells Town. Pulling up to a small wooden dock Ace quickly anchors his striker and hops onto the dock. Ace straightens his hat as he walks into the town in search of a restaurant or saloon. The moment Ace step on the main road the villagers started cowering in fear some even resorting to running away as quickly and far as possible; while others huddled together whispering amongst themselves.
"Why did Fire Fist Ace have to come here especially after Roronoa Zoro just pissed off Captain Morgan's son?" An elderly man whispered harshly as Ace was walking past his huddled group. Pausing in quick thought Ace turned around to face the elderly man making quick work to block off any escape route the balding stout man could take with his flames.
"Excuse me but just who is this Roronoa Zoro and what'd he do to anger a marine captain's son hmm?" Ace politely inquired the now terrified civilian. Gulping quite loudly the old man raised a trembling hand and ran it through what little hair he had.
"He's an uprising bounty hunter they call him the pirate hunter and a demon in human skin he's a blood thirsty beast! I don't know why they arrested him but whatever the reason he probably deserved it," The old man relayed hurriedly and collapsed onto the ground when the fires went out. Ace just gave the old man a polite smile before turning around and walking towards the marine base hunger forgotten.
"A demon in human skin huh," Ace mumbled to himself lowering his head so his hat shadowed his eyes as a smirk settled on his lips. "This pit stop might be more interesting than I thought." Coming at a stop in front of the marine base's front gate Ace looks up at the top of the wall.
"Now I wonder where they'd keep this so called demon," Ace contemplated out loud walking up to the wall stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"In the base's court yard just beyond that wall your staring at and he's not a demon!" A little girl with brown hair pulled into low pig tails, wearing a long stripped shirt, and soft brown eyes answered Ace's musings.
"Hmm," Ace says turning around and crouching down to meet the girl's kind eyes, "My apologies miss I didn't mean to upset you I was just contemplating out loud based on the information I was given. Now what's a sweet little girl like you doing talking to such a dangerous pirate like myself let alone giving me the location of Roronoa Zoro? What's your name?"
"My name's Rika and old man Jiro said a really strong pirate was asking about Zoro-Chan, so I headed over here as fast as I could to ask you to please save Zoro-Chan! He didn't do anything bad he saved me from Helmeppo's pet wolf. He saved my life! Mama says the marines will execute him he doesn't deserve to die," Rika answered calmly at first but turning desperate, teary eyed and trembling at the end of her sentence. Ace pats Rika's head reassuringly ruffling her hair every now and then to calm her down. Once Rika stopped shaking Ace stood up resting his right hand on his hat and looking over at the wall that separated him from the pirate hunter.
"So you're saying Zoro's only crime is that he saved your life huh Rika," Ace asks glancing back at Rika to see her nod before turning back to the wall.
"Then don't worry I give you my word that I'll protect Roronoa Zoro from the Marines," Ace announced turning to Rika with a confident smile on his lips and a determined gleam in his amber eyes causing Rika's eyes to lite up and here face to break out into a grin.
"Thank you so much I don't now I could repay you," Rika breathed in relieved excitement.
"Hey give me some free food and we'll call it even," Ace chuckled as he jumped up on the wall to finally see what lay on the other side. Ace raises an eyebrow as he spots a green haired young man with a dark green bandana tied around his head, a loose white shirt, a green haramaki, tight dark green almost black pant and boots. Ace allowed his eyes to roam over the bounty hunter's tied up lean muscular body in appreciation and obvious want. Licking his lips in anticipation Ace jumps off the wall and lands with a soft thud, but that was enough to get the greenette's attention. Zoro lifts his head glaring fiercely at Ace as the fire user walks closer to him giving the pirate a full view of his handsome face and stunning grey eyes.
"Hello I'm Portgas D. Ace nice to meet you Roronoa Zoro," Ace greets calmly waving his right hand kindly.
"Get out of here you're an eyesore," Zoro demands eyes hardening as Ace simply chuckles and continues approaching the pirate hunter.
"My apologies but I'm afraid I can't do that you see I'm afraid I promised Rika I'd protect you from the Marines," Ace relays smoothly to the tied up greenette as he places his left arm above Zoro's head and leans over the younger smiling fully enjoying having the greenette helpless beneath him.
"She should really learn to mind her own business I made a deal with the selfish bastard I only have twelve days left so when they're up I'll be set free. Now scram I've never broken a deal before and I sure as hell don't plan to start now." Zoro snaps scowling at Ace grey eyes glaring fiercely into Ace's amber. Ace leans down brushing his lips against the shell of Zoro's ear resisting the urge bite, lick said ear or tug on the three golden earing dangling from it.
"Well then it's a real shame that Helmeppo doesn't feel that same way as you do because I heard he'll execute you before the twelve days are up," Ace whispered hotly into Zoro's ear before pulling away to stare into the bounty hunters eyes. The look of disbelief and pure fury in Zoro's gray eyes was an adorable and refreshing sight for Ace, not often do you run into such a straightforward and trustworthy man in marine captivity. They stayed like that for a few moments as Zoro searched Ace's eyes for any hint of deception and after finding none only then did the bounty hunter allow himself to relax.
"Fine, but only on two conditions; One you get my swords back from the marine captain's punk ass kid and two take down Captain Morgan," Zoro bargains never breaking eye contact with Ace who sees fierce determination and trust burn brightly in those grey eyes. Ace seeing an opportunity to take the adorably intriguing swordsman with him seized it without a second's hesitation.
"Is that a promise Roronoa," Ace inquires with mischievous curiosity as he flashes a calming smile.
"I give you my word as a swordsman if you get me my swords I'll go with you pirate." Zoro vowed looking at Ace with honest eyes. Smirking Ace pushed off the post Zoro was tied to and turned his gaze to the Marine base.
"Perfect. I'll hold you to your word swordsman and you can be sure I'll make sure you never break this promise you made to me." Ace declares firmly walking away from a confused and slightly pissed Zoro and right up to the base's front door. Turning his right arm into fire Ace punches the doors off their hinges before allowing his entire body to turn into flames. Ace slips into the base without detection due to all the dust, ruble, and panicking marines. Once Ace slipped past all the marines that were guarding the entrance which wasn't much he shifted back to his flesh and blood form. Walking along the elaborate hallways of the base Ace wondered where they would keep Zoro's swords at. Turning a corner Ace was comes face to face with blond man dressed in a dark suit.
"Excuse me sir but could you direct me to where Roronoa Zoro-," Ace began to questioned the man politely, but was rudely cut off by the blond man.
"Ugh that bastard killed my precious wolf so I tied him up to suffer and took his swords to my room as a souvenir. He's only getting what he deserves for crossing me which in turn is crossing my father the commanding officer of this base. So what would you want with that scum," The man screeched in a very snobbish and bratty manner pointing accusingly at Ace. Ace lowers his head just enough for his hat to shadow his amber eyes smiling wickedly at the blond man as he stuffs his left hand in his pocket; while raising his right in the air in a nonchalant shrug and setting it ablaze. The blond man, Helmeppo, Ace presumes shrieks in terror staring at Ace in horror.
"Oh I'm just here to hold up my end of the deal that makes that swordsman mine is all now you'll take me to your room Helmeppo so I can retrieve Zoro's swords then you'll run to your father and tell him that Fire Fist Ace says hello," Ace answers Helmeppo's question as he walked up to the cowering brat lifting his head wicked grin still in place and a murderous gleam in his eyes saying 'shut up and do what I say or die'. Helmeppo nods his head tensely trembling all over skin extremely pale as he wordlessly leads an all flesh and bone Ace down several corridors and a few flights of stairs. Stopping in front of two slightly bigger doors than the rest Helmeppo quickly opened the doors to the frivolously decorated room. Three swords leaned against the farthest wall next to a big window overlooking the base's courtyard where Zoro was tied up. Silently walking across the room Ace knelt down grabbed all three swords stood back up and smirks kicking the window open shattering the glass. Quickly securing the swords onto his hip Ace steps onto the ledge of the window he just broke.
"Now be a good little brat and tell your father hi for me Kay," Ace instructs Helmeppo coldly before jumping off into the court yard bellow. Deftly landing only a few feet away from the tied up swordsman Ace checks to see if the swords are still intact. Ace briskly walks up to the greenette smiling triumphantly while Zoro just stares at him with scrutinizing eyes. As soon as Zoro sees the swords secured at Ace's hip relief quickly flashes through his grey eyes.
"You got my swords I see," Zoro notes watching Ace cautiously as the fire user leaned over him as he did previously.
"I did. Say Zoro how'd you feel about traveling the seas with me?" Ace inquires the younger tilting Zoro's chin up with his right hand so he could look directly into the swordsman's grey eyes.
"Normally I'd say fuck off and I have no interest in becoming a criminal but considering the fact that it's either that or die. Then fine I'll acquiesce myself to becoming your personal swordsman," Zoro remarks passively breaking eye contact with Ace. Smiling excitedly Ace pushes off the post and walks to the back where Zoro's body won't get in the way of burning off the ropes. Putting his right index finger against the post Ace sets it a blaze before swiftly swiping said finger across the post. The ropes fell to the floor silently as Zoro stood up fully and stretched his aching muscles. Turning around to face Ace Zoro holds out his hand gesturing to his swords still secured to Ace's hip. Nodding understandingly Ace unfastens the swords from his hip as he walks around the post and next to Zoro and hands the swords over to the swordsman. Zoro takes them gratefully and quickly fastens them to the right side of his waist. Zoro also removes the dark green bandana from his head and deftly ties it around his left bicep.
"Come on Zoro let's get out of here Rika promised me free food as a thank you for saving you," Ace states wrapping his arm around the swordsman's waist before dragging him off the marine base's premises. Though Ace didn't get very far before Zoro quickly hit him in the head causing the poor fire user to stumble while the swordsman easily jumped over the wall. Smirking predatorily Ace licks his lips before smiling again and swiftly joining Zoro on the other side of the wall.
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"I can't thank you enough for saving Zoro-Chan even after you ate half of our stock Ace-kun," Rika shouts chirpily at Ace as he unties his striker from the dock Zoro standing next to him smiling kindly at Rika. Waving her arms wildly above her head Rika continues to shout farewells and thank yous happily. Ace picks up his bag quickly putting it on as he steps aboard his little ship before helping Zoro on board.
"Thanks for the feast it was great it was nice meeting you Rika bye," Ace shouts back to Rika before setting his feet a blaze pulling out of Shell Town's dock and out into the wide open sea. The wind ruffled Aces hair and Zoro's shirt who was hanging onto the striker mast so he wouldn't fall off. Zoro turns his head to look at Ace a smile playing at his lips.
"So where to now," Zoro asks curiously looking directly into Ace's amber eyes which lit up with glee.
"The Grand Line," Ace declares smiling warmly at the swordsman.
Yume: And yes I did just end it there! Review to let me know your thought and who knows I might just make this a chapter fic.
Yume: Oh and if I do make this a chapter fic I am open to any and all suggestion you may have!