This was a homework assignment in English we used a list of words she gave us to write a story. (I wonder if you guys can pick her words out) Since she gave us free rein I turned it into a fanfic. Because of course, I turn it into a fanfic. Ace's name wasn't mentioned so she couldn't accuse me of stealing characters and being uncreative.
She met him on any other day at her family bar. It was packed to the brim with pirates left and right all singing their own shanties, lifting their drinks in the air with glee.
The marines said that they were murderous men who only cared for gold, which on most accounts She would agree but this crew she served was different. They broke out of the box that she and the rest of the world had put them in. It also helped she became smitten with him. One of those so-called pirates, freckles covered his cheeks, with a puppy smile to match. It makes her wonder how the government could fear him.
He was witty, intelligent in his own way and always ready to have fun. He was congenial a kinder spirit, she felt a pull to him, never one to ignore her gut she got closer to him.
It was dangerous, oh so dangerous. She shouldn't have risked it, shouldn't have tried. For once, he caught her heart he kept it.
With his bright silver eyes, and wavy hair. With the tattoos on his back, and shoulder, with his tales of the sea. He was a siren calling out to her, he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
No matter her silent warning to herself, no matter her saying, "how can I let myself fall in love with you if you will just leave?'
He only answered back with, "Have you ever lived in the moment?"
His words caused her to sigh, "I'll most likely regret it in the end."
He laughed smiling wider leaning back in his chair, as his eyes slid shut. That irritating, handsome smile on his face never leaving, "how do you know you'll regret it without even trying? We live short lives, we should enjoy them to the fullest."
She would say later that her kissing him was only a one-time thing.
Her hands weaved through his short locks, pulling him closer to her. So close she could feel his heartbeat in his chest, could feel his breath on her skin.
He smiled in his sleep at her light touches; The smell of wood and spices tantalizing to her senses. She was only digging herself a deeper grave.
The more kisses she stole, the more time she found comfort in his arms, the more she opened up to him.
She realized it all at once.
"I already can't see my life without you in it."
It was as painful as she expected.
She kissed him longer not wanting to be released from their embrace, feeling as if the months she spent not holding onto him, every second of the day were wasted. She wished she could turn back time, wished that she could forever be in the moment with him, but it was time for him to set sail.
Pulling away, she gazed into his eyes seeing sorrow, love, and regret. Without thinking, she spits the words out, faster than her brain could stop her from her foolishness.
"Take me with you!"
She saw the pain in his eyes grow at her words. His laugh was hollow as he caressed her cheek lovingly. She nuzzled against his hand, looking up at him with hope.
"Darling we both know you're not made for the sea, her waters are dark and unforgiving. The dangers of going to sea with me…." He trailed off his eyes losing focus, seeing something she couldn't.
He turned his focus back on her a sad smile on his lips, "you'll be safe here." His forehead touched her own, as they both breathe in deeply, breathing each other's air holding on tightly, not wanting to let go.
This was goodbye.
Her heart sunk seeing the news of his capture, seeing his face on the front paper. She balled her fist, biting her bottom lip as she stared.
"An execution."
She turned to face one of the many customers to her family bar. She was thankful it was one of the ones not to dither on his order.
He only sighed at the implication of it only glancing at the paper, "this isn't good." She slid his regular drink down the bar he caught it with ease, drinking it down in one gulp.
"We can only pray now that God shows mercy. For once you're in the hands of government dogs you're as good as dead."
He wouldn't die, he had the power of fire with him able to conjure and dispel them with ease just like magic. The warmth emanated from him, never too hot to her touch. He explained to her long ago, it wasn't magic nor witchcraft it was something else that had its own drawbacks.
"He'll be fine, I know he'll live I have faith in him."
The man at the bar only chuckled, "you kids and your young love. You know he'll need more than your fervent prayers to help him."
She closed her eyes smiling wryly, "I know that's why he has his family."
She slid another shot to the man, he threw it back, shaking his head at her words,"you need more than family to get you through hell."
At his words, all fell silent in the bar.
She knew very well that the government had gone dotty throughout the years. Worse and worse were their crimes until pirates were seen as heroes (at least in her eyes) and marines seen as monsters.
Not that they didn't deserve the title.
She learned the world wasn't as black and white as she thought it was so long ago. Not every marine was a saint, not every pirate was a monster.
The world wasn't black and white.
She waited with bated breath for his escape. For him to be freed from the rapacious marines who wanted his death for show, to ward off the creation of more pirate crews. She felt joy bloom in her chest as she saw his younger brother, straw hat and all enter the scene, helping him escape.
Just as she saw the two on the ground running, fighting off the men that tried to drag him back. The video was cut off, leaving her and the rest of the attendants in the bar in suspense. That was until the news arrived by gull.
Newspapers fluttered from the sky, as they were released throughout the town.
Shaking she went outside to pick one up, only to have a warm hand clasp her shoulder. Turning she saw her father with a grave look on his face, eyes welling with tears he never shed.
"Don't look." She felt her throat close, barely managing to choke out, "b-but why?"
She knew why.
She knew because if he lived her small island would have been in uproar by now, celebrating with food and drinks for their friends were alive.
To her dread, she saw men, and women silently weeping. Others pounded their fists on table's teeth gritting in agony.
She knew that her lover was dead.
Her knees went weak, falling to the paved ground as it felt like her very soul was being ripped from her body.
A scream filled the air, so full of pain and sorrow one could only look on in pity. It was a cry so haunting many would spread the tale of the sound of her pain.
She gazed upon the desolate land. The smell of gunpowder and copper still potent the wind carrying the smell to her no matter how far she walked.
She could still smell it, still hear it.
Her facade quickly cracking to reveal her pain. It wasn't enough for them to take her love, but they took her home as well. Her little island, her town, her people, were gone. All in a blaze of gunfire that rained from the very men who said they protect the people.
They were gone, she only escaped by the skin of her teeth. No one saw her, but she saw them.
She began to plot.
"Why are you here?"
The man's face was hidden by a long cloak, his voice rumbled like thunder. The clouds overhead grew dark as she forced herself to look straight into the inky blackness of his hood. Trying to make eye contact to show how serious she was.
"I'm here to join the revolutionaries. I want to tear the marines to the ground." Her steely gaze never wavered. With a flash of lightning, she saw his smirk.
"I see you're joining for your own selfish reasons."
She was hurt, she was tired, she wanted to fight back against the marines. The more she learned of the government, the more she was disgusted with what they got away with. Yes, she wanted to join them for selfish reasons at first but not anymore.
"It may have started as revenge, but the more I learn, the more it fuels my rage, for he wasn't the only one."
With another flash of thunder, the man's smile widened taking up half of his face.
"Welcome to the revolutionaries, Miss Selene."