Hi there, this is my first One Piece fic, so please, no flames (even though it's about Ace)
I only own Blaize Roux Shanks, though if it were up to me, Ace would NOT be dead...This chapter's mainly set up, I've tried to be as accurate as possible.
Enjoy!
Narcaleptic Idiots and Awkward Sand in Awkward Places
Ah jeez, this heat is ridiculous. I should really think about getting a hair cut...
The young woman blew a springy curl off her sticky forehead and looked around for some shade. A restaurant at the end of the road looked promising but as she closed in she saw a rather large crowd gathered outside. With a frustrated sigh she took in their worried expressions and tapped the nearest guy on the shoulder.
"Oi, what's going on here?" She asked, hitching her shoulder sack higher. Her slick skin was really starting to annoy her.
"They're saying some guy just dropped dead in there! Just really suddenly, right in the middle of a conversation and eating, poor idiot; they say he ate a strawberry spider, that's why no one's going near h – HEY! Miss come back, you don't know how dangerous it is..."
Blaize ignored the idiot man and pushed her way through the crowd. Finally finding relief from the baking sun she let out a sweet sigh, set her sack down at the nearest empty table and kicked back on one of the chairs. Now she was inside she could see the poor sap that'd died halfway through his meal. Still, nicer way to go than most...HOLY SHIT!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! HE CAME BACK TO LIFE"
The crowd screamed as said dead man rose up from his plate, whipped his face on a woman's skirt and carried on eating.
"Man...damn...fell asleep."
Another cry went up but Blaize just chuckled, wishing she could sleep so easily. She hailed a stunned waitress and ordered something strong enough to ease her aching feet. Tuning out she pulled off her head scarf and desert cloak and stored them away in her sack. Ah god it felt good to be able to breathe again. This trip was beginning to piss her off, even more than usual. Not that miss Blaize Roux Shanks was in a good mood often, severe lack of sleep would do that to you. She frowned and glanced at the half naked man still sat at the bar. How do you fall asleep in the middle of a restaurant anyway? Wait...
She squinted at his back, specifically the remarkable tattoo...and smiled. Finally, someone who might be able to help her out!
She stood just as a hefty man smoking two cigars strolled in, eyes glued to the pirate sat at the bar.
"I guess you don't have a problem with eating in public; Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Second Division, Portgas D Ace." Said the burly man calmly as people reacted to his words in terror. Fucking Marine! Just her luck – he glanced her way and she froze, her expression set in a deep frown.
"You think you slipped my notice? I wouldn't have expected you to be this careless, Red Blaze." He looked between the two, puffing on those infernal cigars still, "Tell me, what do two of the most infamous pirates have in this country?"
Ace looked over his shoulder ever so slightly and caught Blaize's eye before smirking and setting down his cup. "I'm searching for my little brother; though I can't speak for the lady over there." He jerked his thumb her way and Blaize raised her eyebrow in displeasure. A collective gasp went throughout the crowd as she turned her infamous expression to the Marine, who was looking at her expectantly.
"I'm looking for my uncle."
The Marine didn't really look like he actually cared about this information, which sent an angry jolt through Blaize. She crossed her arms and waited.
"So then, what should I do?" Asked the man called Ace.
"Sit there and let me arrest you," he looked back to Blaize, "both."
"Rejected," Ace smirked, "I'd rather not."
Blaize snorted, "yeah sorry, but I share his sentiments."
Ace sent her a shit eating grin and tipped his hat; Blaize shot him a glare back.
"Well that's what I expected," replied the Marine as he closed his eyes.
"Why'd you ask then dipshit?" Growled Blaize, enjoying how the Marine stiffened under her disrespect.
"Right now, I'm looking for a different pirate. I'm not really interested in either of your heads." He said.
"Let us go then." Did he just say us? Blaize didn't need a fucking partner in crime.
"I can't do that..."
The Marine suddenly flexed his fist and Blaize groaned when she saw it turn to smoke; he was a bloody devil fruit user. Of course he was, god, how could she not have recognised him? Commander Smoker...like the cigars didn't give that away she thought dryly.
"As long as I'm a Marine, and you're both Pirates."
"What a dumb reason."
"I really don't have time for this."
"Shall we have some fun then?"
"Oh for fuck's sake..."
"GOMU GOMU NOOOOO! ROCKET!"
A blur flew past Blaize and hit Smoker's back with immense force, sending him crashing into Ace and straight through the back wall. She blinked a few times, not really sure what the hell just happened. Grabbing her sack she walked over to the smoking hole and saw several others leading on from it and some kid in a straw hat but no Smoker or Ace. Jeez, did that stringy boy just seriously do that? The one now shouting for food like a child?
Blaize rubbed a hand over her eyes, "Ugh, I really hate this weird ass place." She muttered and, grabbing the bottle from her table, left before the barman realised she hadn't paid or that stupid Smoker reappeared.
She was beginning to think the lead which sent her here was a hoax. She really couldn't see her uncle being in this dump; it was too hot for one, and there was sand everywhere! She didn't even know how it got in some parts of her body. She had another lead but it was a long way away, and she'd need a boat, a fast one. God this was frustrating, why couldn't her devil fruit have been one that transported her places quickly? Not that she didn't like the one she'd received by accident when she was five, but it wasn't much help right now.
A commotion behind her suddenly caught her attention and she turned just in time to see that straw hat kid racing towards her...with Smoker in tow. Thinking quickly she dove for a side alley and flattened her body to the cool wall. They tore past in a rush of dust, Blaize let out a sigh of relief and turned to follow the alley down.
"AH!" She yelped. That arrogant pirate from the bar was stood right behind her. She stilled her glowing hands and gaze him an incredulous look.
"YOU IDIOT! Do you realise what you almost made me do?" She shouted. He smirked and tipped his hat.
"You know, for the bounty on your head you sure do run a lot. I'm just curious about that..."
She snarled at him and tried to push past him but he easily blocked the narrow alley with his body. Blaize simmered angrily and drew back, folding her arms defensively.
"I just don't like wasting time on pointless fights. Like now for example..." She gave him a pointed look but he just smiled.
"That Smoker guy called you Red Blaze, as in Blaize Roux Shanks? Red Haired Shank's daughter right?"
She quirked an eyebrow, "So?"
"You got that from him, the whole not fighting if it's not necessary?" He asked, his face suddenly shifting from jokey to respectful. Blaize let out a bitter chuckle.
"Not exactly, I just don't like people wasting my time. I'm not really as well tempered as my father. How do you know about that anyway?
"I met him once; had to thank him for saving my little brother Luffy. He was that kid from the restaurant in the straw hat."
Blaize blanched, "the one that sent you through a load of walls?"
Ace chuckled, "Yeah, he's a bit of an idiot when he's hungry. By the way, did you see which way he went?" He asked, putting his hands on his hips. She tried not to let her eyes linger on his very toned bare chest... and arms...and stomach...
"Do you own a shirt?" She muttered distractedly before looking him straight in the eye. He was looking at her a little surprised by her question. Before he could speak she pointed, "He went that way and I'd hurry, that Smoker guy was right on his tail."
Ace started, "Ah shit! That idiot." He slipped past her and sent a wave her way, "Thanks Red!" before shooting off into the air with fiery feet. Blaize starred after him for a second; so that was the Fire Fist Ace her father had told her about. He was more handsome than she'd expected. Frowning she shook her head. Where the hell did that come from?
With a sigh she blew another errant curl out of her eyes and went to ask someone the way to the docks, and tried to forget her odd encounter with the handsome fire pirate.
As if fate would let her have a peaceful day. Nooo, of course not! Upon reaching the docks at last she saw them swarmed with marines with fire and smoke lying thick in the air. Yeah, it was so hard to guess whose fault that might be. With a groan she took another detour, running down a series of small pathways to find another way there.
She stopped suddenly...it was far too quiet. It did not escape her notice that the windows and doorways were full of badly hidden men with pathetic weapons. Blaize kept her pace natural as she rounded a corner... and bumped right into a bare chest, throwing her to the ground.
"Eh? You again." Blaize looked up to see none other than Ace staring down at her with a smirk halfway between arrogant and confused. To her immense surprise however, he bent and held out his hand for her to take. She slid her hand into his tentatively, eyeing him with great suspicion. A gasp nearly escaped her when his hand tightened around hers and hauled her up too quickly sending her stumbling into his chest.
"Oi Ace, do you know this lady?" asked a skinny kid from behind the two pirates. Ace quickly let go of her hand a let it rest on his neck. Blaize felt a blush threaten her cheeks; Red Blaze did NOT blush.
"Uh kinda." He mumbled.
"Stop right there, Fire Fist Ace." From all around them, men appeared, brandishing their weapons with idiotic confidence.
"As you can see, there's nowhere to run." A rather large, fat she would say, man spoke from the pathway in front of them. "Fire Fist Ace, your head is ours."
She really needed to start avoiding this guy...
"Prepare to die!"
Yeah, definitely avoid...
"FIRE FIST ACE! Your devil luck ends here."
Suddenly, a few of the men in the crowd who'd been leering at her squinted harder and muttered between each other.
"Oi, isn't that..?"
"Hey, you don't suppose...is that other guy Straw Hat Luffy?"
"Now that you mention it..."
"The 30,000,000 bounty!"
"No, I mean yeah but I was talking about the girl. That's Red Blaze! Her bounty stands at 400,000,000!"
A rumbled went through the crowd. Blaize rolled her eyes as Luffy stared at her in awe.
"We're freakin' lucky today. Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy and Red Blaze! When we have your heads we'll be promoted three times over!" He leered uncomfortably close and all three decided they'd had enough at roughly the same time.
"Anyway, let's go find your ship," he said to Luffy as they walked past the men of little threat, "should we go to the beach?"
"Sure," replied Luffy, "Hey lady do you wanna come too?"
Before Blaize could answer a shout rang out from behind them.
"HEY, YOU THREE! HOLD IT!"
"Making fools of us! KILL THEM!"
"AYE!"
Swords came down from all sides, splitting them up. Having taken her last straw Blaize kicked an oncoming guy in the face, then swung round and elbowed another in the stomach. She ducked a poorly executed sword attack and gracefully stepped out of the way of the second and third before bringing her leg round to smack him in the head.
A load of shots sounded and Blaize span quickly and gasped as she saw Ace's brother take several bullets...and bounce them right back! She ducked out of the way and came into the path of the very angry fat man. He lunged at her with his big sword again and again but she easily avoided it until Ace's hand came over her shoulder and grabbed the blade mid swing.
"GOMU GOMU NOOOO!" Two stretched arms shot out on either side of her and cracked into the fat guy just and Ace heated his sword, sending him flying back and out of sight. Blaize took the heated blade from Ace, the blistering metal not bothering her hands, and watched as it began to blaze red. She threw it into the rest of the group and pulled both Ace and Luffy down as it exploded.
"WOAHOHOHO!" Squealed Luffy, "That was so cooool!"
Ace chuckled darkly and pulled Luffy up by his collar. Blaize got herself up and dusted off before setting off for the ocean again, the two boys in tow.
"So you can stretch eh Luffy?" Blaize asked, looking over at Ace's brother.
"He he, yeah, I ate the Gomu Gomu devil fruit when I was younger. But you can blow stuff up! That's super cool, kind of like Ace but even better!"
"Hey!" Ace wacked his brother upside the head but sent Blaize a smirk.
"Ow," Luffy carried on unperturbed, "So who are you anyways?"
"Blaize Roux Shanks, I'm – "
"You're Shank's daughter! NO WAY!"
She had to laugh, he was such a kid. She remembered Ace saying her old man had saved Luffy. Before she got a chance to ask anymore however Luffy saw the ocean and ran ahead.
"Is he always like this?" She asked Ace, trying hard not to smile and ruined her grouchy reputation.
"Pretty much, he hasn't changed at all since we were kids. Sorry, he hasn't got much in the way of manners." He said placing his hands on his hips. Blaize shrugged and let her smile come.
"Oi Luffy! See your ship?"
Running footsteps came from behind, and someone shouted, "You won't escape!" Evidently some of them had survived the blast. Bastards.
"You guys don't know when to quit." Ace voiced what she had been thinking.
"AH! It's over there! OI, I'm over here! GUYS!" Luffy cried out and Blaize turned to see a faint ship on the horizon...wait this idiot was a captain? Oh good god...She turned back to Ace, shooting him a questioning look. He smiled knowingly but his eyes were on the crowd following them.
"Oi Luffy. Go on..." They both turned to see him jumping off over the wall, "yeah he ain't listening" Ace finished dryly.
"You wanna do this or shall I?" He asked her. Blaize held up her hands and mock yawned.
"They're all yours Fire Fist."
She turned out to the ocean and went to lean against the wall. Evidently Luffy had disappeared, she had a vague idea of how considering his ability and sure enough, saw him shooting across the sea to his ship. A soft wind blew up from behind her as fire roared and screams sounded. It really was beautiful, and now that she was close to water with an easy breeze blowing through her hair, the sweltering heat of Arabasta had eased off a bit. Still, she wiped her brow, pushing off a few stray hairs and fanned her face. Footsteps sounded the return of her pirate companion and she turned slightly to see him frowning out at the sea.
"He blasted off to his ship already." Blaize answered his unspoken question and he relaxed, sending her a rueful smile. She brushed it off with a wave of her hand.
"So where are you from here?" asked Ace, leaning beside her on the wall and tilting his hat down over his eyes.
"On to a town far away from here, though I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to get there yet..." She grumbled and sank down so her hand cupped her cheek.
"No boat?" Ace guessed offhandedly. She just nodded in return, "east or west?"
She pointed with her free hand, "west."
"What luck, I happen to be going west myself."
Blaize pulled back and looked at the man before her in surprise. Then her eyes narrowed.
"Just what are you proposing?" Her voice was thick with suspicion.
"Eh? Who said I was proposing anything, I just happen to be going the same way as you, not my problem that you don't have a ride there." He smirked. Blaize sent a punch his way, which he avoided with ease, and went to storm off. Idiot boy, no help whatsoev –
"Oi,"
"What?" She growled, turning with hands on hips, mirroring him.
"Want a ride?" He asked casually. A jolt shot through her chest. She tilted her head, eyeing him up. Should she really do this? He did attract a hell of a lot of trouble...she remembered her recent pledge to avoid this man as much as possible. But if he was offering her a ride...
"How much?" She asked, not moving any closer or breaking her stance.
"Food." He said, scratching his chin with one hand.
"Just food?" She mused. He nodded, dark eyes laced with something she couldn't quite read. "Why?"
He shrugged, "quit asking so many questions damn it, do you want a ride or not?"
Oh why not. "Deal." She walked back over and held out her hand which he took. Warmth spread through her fingers. It took more effort than she'd ever admit to suppress the shiver which raced through her body.
"Deal," he repeated, his eyes never once leaving hers.
Ok, there's the first chapter. Please, please, please review and let me know what you think, but please no flames. THANKS! I'll get the next one up asap.