A/N: If I make a romantic story, it wouldn't really be romantic. Just angst all the freaking way.
Pairing: Smoker/Ace (Established; Set after Ace officially became a Whitebeard pirate but before he announced it to the world. Ace is not yet the second commander here.)
Disclaimer: One Piece©Eiichiro Oda
Though Ace was not prone to hallucinations, he believed that he was having one when his eyes settled on a familiar figure on the enemy's ship. That glossed back hair complete with the visage of a burdened man, grey eyes that seemed to gleam over him but not really seeing, and that cigar he always grit in his teeth in the middle of every time, the smoke an ashen comparison to the darkened sky. Involuntary shivers coursed through him in ridges, making his fingers curl into the wooden railings, a name on his tongue as he suppressed the urge to call out to the object of his lost affection.
"And what business does a marine have with us?" He heard Marco speak, no doubt a continued answer from a conversation he had missed. Ace sighed, his eyes tired. He did not let his guard down however, as he returned to his position in the dark. He hoped the Phoenix will use the right words for this, and Smoker vice versa. Especially Smoker though; Ace knew the man have the temper of a volcanic eruption. He knew that fact all too much.
Ace observed Smoker as he puffed out a smoke with practiced ease, hollow eyes staring into Marco's deep blues. "I heard Fire Fist Ace had a scuffle with you," Smoker started with a low growl, a glare in his eyes. Ace tensed from within the shadows.
"What did you do to him?"
"Trying to get information, huh," Marco seemed almost amused, the way he leaned against the railings to take in the sight of the glowering marine. "What will you do once we tell you?"
"It depends on what you tell me."
"What if we say he's dead?" Clearly Marco was not in the right state of mind, Ace concluded, as all colour left his face. Ace knew Marco was doing this for his sake; he had been the one to express his eagerness to 'scare the shit out of the Marines with Oyaji's mark' and making the debut of the new him on the news with the biggest headline on the front page after he hide away for a little while-
Gosh, that'd be wonderful, but it was not worth the risk of Smoker breaking down during the time he's hiding for a little while. He wanted to step out, to tell Marco it was alright, that Smoker was just worried for him but he knew that was an option sinful to be thought of. Smoker had told him, once upon a time, that if anyone were to find out of their relationship, he'd quit being a marine. Though Ace might have preferred that, he knew that Smoker's dream lies within his current job. Ace did not share Luffy's idealism in many things, but this was one he respected. Dreams were important, and to lose it just because Ace had enough of being worried left a terrible feeling in his gut.
Smoker's expression took on a darker turn and Ace clenched his fists, knowing what was to come. "Then I'd have a problem. Fire Fist and I have a little something to settle, you know."
"Oh? And what would that be?" Marco looked over his fingernails with a lazy gaze as if uninterested, making Thatch snort somewhere from behind him.
"I don't have any obligation to tell you, Marco the Phoenix," The use of his epithet made Marco look at him and to be honest, the blonde kind of saw the attack coming. He just didn't know why. Marco dodged the fist easily, backing away as the marine jumped up onto the deck. "Stand down, filthy pirates," he snarled, and Ace bit the inside of his cheek. Ace knew what Smoker was going to do and by the look Marco was sending him and his own stupid rule of 'don't tell anyone', Ace knew he can't do anything but watch. Watch as Smoker engulf the ship in his smoke, his ire shown but not understood.
"I'll show you absolute justice."
As soon as the fight started, Ace realized that Smoker had came to their ship alone. As big as the warship may be, only a single occupant was present, and he was currently sprawled on the deck, covered in colours of black and blue and painted in red. Though his injuries were close to fatal, Smoker was still on the brink of consciousness, his breathing ragged as he tried to push himself back up. The cheers that erupted from the growing crowd made nausea churn inside of him, and Ace forced himself to stay rooted in one place.
"Get up! Get up!" The crowd chanted despite Ace's wish for Smoker to stay the fuck down and get a fucking medic already-
"You heard them. Get up." Ace never wanted to punch Marco so bad before. Thatch too. And Izo. Jozu, Haruta, Curiel- Basically just everyone. They were cheering for Marco, the bastard (but it wasn't his fault that he didn't know, Ace knows), and laughing at Smoker, their words acting as a mocking command to the marine.
And surprise, surprise, Smoker reacted and did exactly that.
The marine shakily rose up to his knees, one of his hand going for the wound at his side. "Fuck you, Phoenix," He spat out the blood in his mouth to the side, where a pirate stepped back in surprise and afterwards annoyance. "I'm not low enough that I have to follow what a pirate say."
Yet he's still doing it, the bastard.
Even from afar, Ace could see Smoker's legs trembling, unable to support his weakened weight. Why is he doing this? Doesn't this hurt? What will all of this accomplish? Ace took in a shuddering breath as he watched his lover fall into a crumpled heap, finally unconscious as Marco pulled away his fist. To his question from before, he sadly knew the answer like his own name. Vengeance. Revenge. To pay back for what the Whitebeards did to Ace, but Ace was still alive, Smoker misunderstood, he's hurt now just because Ace decided to be a good boy and shut the hell up-
"He was searching for you, that marine." Thatch said with- was that a laugh? Ace had to restrain himself from hurting someone. "Told him you're gone. That guy must've wanted you bad."
"Fuck off, Thatch."
"Woah, easy there! What's gotten you all grumpy?"
Everything, Ace wanted to say but he held his tongue, watching Marco pull the unconscious marine by the scruff of his neck. Ace felt something familiar break once again.
"What are you going to do with him?" Izo asked the Phoenix, eyes amusedly inspecting Smoker's form. The kimono clad man walked forward and with the barrel of his gun, he nudged the marine. Smoker did not stir at all. "He's not going to be of use, so you might as well throw him overboard. Idiot came here by himself, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he did." Marco confirmed with a sigh, throwing Smoker over his shoulder and turning to walk away. "I'll take care of him, don't worry." As if detecting an end, the crowd that gathered before slowly dispersed, mutters and talks in their wake.
"So you're throwing him over?"
"You said it yourself Izo, I didn't even know why I bothered thinking about it."
As the two conversed, Ace walked forward, a dark look on his face, his fists tightened, and lips pulled into a taut line. He did not know what possessed him to take action, but he can't just stand there and calmly observe Smoker getting dumped into the sea. No, there has to be something that can be done instead of this. With Thatch at his back, following him like a shadow of curiosity, Ace halted whatever they were going to do with a hand on their shoulders. "Take him to the cell," he heard himself say. "It'll be better that way."
Marco raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Why?"
"I want to ask him something," Ace retorted, his voice quieter than usual. Thatch stepped up beside him, a look of realization taking over his features before he snorted in disbelief.
"He probably tracked you down because of some grudge. Don't think about it that much."
"Maybe he had a different reason..?" Ace suggested and Thatch crossed his arms.
"What other reason could a marine possibly have other than taking down a pirate?"
To meet him. To see if he, Ace was okay. To tell Smoker that he was fine, there was no need to worry, and- and I mis-
"I guess you're right, but I still want to ask him."
Marco looked skeptical for a moment, his gaze shifting to the marine on his shoulder before shrugging. "I don't see why not. But since you insisted, you're keeping first watch. We don't want that guy loitering on the ship unattended now, do we?" He grabbed Smoker and handed him over to Ace, who fumbled a bit before securing Smoker in his arms.
"Yeah, I know. Sorry about this guys, I know you're worried this guy's gonna snap or something and you want him off but I really am-"
"Quit it, Ace. It doesn't matter. Who are we to stop you from quelling your curiousity, no matter how small?" Izo smiled and patted Ace's back as he passed by him. "And besides, who said we're worried? Of him? Bah, that guy can't hurt any of us. We know you got it all under control."
That hollow space in Ace's chest filled up with warmth of daunting familiarity and he couldn't help but smile back.
"Yeesh, people, they're just gonna talk. Don't be so dramatic 'bout it." Thatch rolled his eyes, but the smile on his lips was too hard to miss. Marco glared at the chef playfully, a lazy smirk of his own to match his demeanor. The blonde walked up to Thatch and in a second, seized him by the arm.
"Yes, and you have something to do. If I recall correctly, you're supposed to be on kitchen duty today...?"
"I'm on kitchen duty everyday, Marco!" Came the expected whine, "Can't I at least get a break?!'
"Nope. Sorry Head Chef."
Ace and laughed as Marco dragged Thatch away, and when the the chef's voice faded away in the distance, Ace let his smile drop. Silently, he lifted Smoker up to his back, hefting the marine's legs with his arms as he carried him away.
If anyone noticed, no one dared to question the man's frown, and the way his eyes exuded sorrow like none other.
"You...what?"
Ace sighed, pinched his nose, and readied himself for another round of disbelief from Reina. With his hands, he gestured towards the first aid kit on the head nurse's office table and looked right into his sister's eyes. "I want to borrow that for a bit. Fix smokey-man down there and be the good guy for once."
Reina blinked, twice by now, and opened her mouth only to close it shut. Without so much as a grumble, she turned, grabbed the kit and handed it over to Ace. The fire user furrowed his eyebrows but nonetheless, took it and held it under his arm, and waited for some kind of response.
There was none.
"That...That's it?" Reina glanced towards Ace and nonchalantly continued to organize papers on her table. The second division member bit the inside of his cheek and spoke once more. "Y-You're not gonna ask me what the hell I'm doing, helping a marine and all that?"
"I don't see what's the problem." The blonde casually brushed her hair behind her ear, "Everyone have the free judgement to give aid or not and I, as a doctor, prefer to help." She then turned, fully looking at Ace in the eyes, smirk forming on her lips. "What I didn't expect was for someone to beat me to it. And surprisingly, it's Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace who is a pirate through and through." She narrowed her eyes this time, intertwining her fingers as she leaned back against her chair and crossed her legs, organizing papers all but forgotten.
"Tell me, Ace." The smirk was gone in an instant, and from where Ace stood, the knives strapped to her hip seemed to glint dangerously. "Did that marine catch your...interest?"
The lump of fear in his throat was swallowed after a moment of silence, and Ace pulled his mouth to a taut line. "...Sort of. I just wanna ask him some questions." He answered indifferently, his voice a traitor to his frantic heart. He turned around on his heels, first aid kit secured under his arm as went for the door. "Thanks for the kit though. I owe you one." The door was slammed shut after that, but Reina did see how Ace bolted as soon as he left the room. She sighed once again, turning towards the office table to organize her files once again.
"Oh, Ace..." She quietly muttered, pushing the papers to one side of the table. "...You know what I meant by that."
Smoker felt as if he was higher than the clouds. His head was spinning, stomach area throbbing, and his conscious a jumbled mess. And while that was the first thing he felt, his first thought when he opened his eyes was that he wasn't on his ship. He was in a dark and musty place, the lanterns nearby giving him the clear image of iron bars.
He was in a cell. And then he remembered.
"Motherfucking Whitebeards..." He groaned as he tried to sit up, only to feel pain shooting up in his abdomen when he tried to move. In that failed attempt, his head hit the ground once again, making him see stars lighting up like supernovas. His hand instictively rose to his head and to his surprise, instead of skin, he found himself touching some kind of cottoned fabric.
'Bandages..?'
The man sighed, opting to look at the ceiling for now and not wonder why the pirates didn't kill him just like they did Ace- Smoker shut his eyes tight but that only brought up memories of the dark haired boy flashing within his mind, cutting up his heart more than before. Something tightened in his chest.
Ah, how the hell did he become so infatuated with such a rogue...?
He recalled the times Ace had snuck into his office, a smile on his face that said he wanted more than just an arrest. He remembered the faint touch on his skin, Ace's fingers burning with every contact he initiated even without him using his devil fruit. The ghost of a kiss lingered on his lips and that was probably the one thing he can never forget.
Together with Ace's unrelenting, stubborn determination.
His eyes opened wide in realisation and Smoker remembered to breathe.
A/N: Someone needs to put a restraint on me. Ideas keeps on coming like fucking bunnies, and I can't even stop myself from using italics. I don't even finish the damned story I make.
What to do, what to do...